Lactobacillus acidophilus nucleic acid sequences encoding carbohydrate utilization-related proteins and uses therefor

ABSTRACT

Carbohydrate utilization-related and multidrug transporter nucleic acids and polypeptides, and fragments and variants thereof, are disclosed in the current invention. In addition, carbohydrate utilization-related and multidrug transporter fusion proteins, antigenic peptides, and anti-carbohydrate utilization-related and anti-multidrug transporter antibodies are encompassed. The invention also provides vectors containing a nucleic acid of the invention and cells into which the vector has been introduced. Methods for producing the polypeptides and methods of use for the polypeptides of the invention are further disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/255,938, filed Oct. 22, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,838,276, and which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/074,226, filed Mar. 7, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,459,289, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/551,121, filed Mar. 8, 2004, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY

The official copy of the sequence listing is submitted electronically via EFS-Web as an ASCII formatted sequence listing with a file named 396481seqlist.txt, created on Oct. 11, 2010, and having a size of 1,313 KB and is filed concurrently with the specification. The sequence listing contained in this ASCII formatted document is part of the specification and is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to polynucleotides isolated from lactic acid bacteria, namely Lactobacillus acidophilus, and polypeptides encoded by them, as well as methods for using the polypeptides and organisms expressing them.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Lactobacillus acidophilus is a Gram-positive, rod-shaped, non-spore forming, homofermentative bacterium that is a normal inhabitant of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. Since its original isolation by Moro (1900) from infant feces, the “acid loving” organism has been found in the intestinal tract of humans, breast-fed infants, and persons consuming high milk, lactose, or dextrin diets. Historically, Lactobacillus acidophilus is the Lactobacillus species most often implicated as an intestinal probiotic capable of eliciting beneficial effects on the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract (Klaenhammer and Russell (2000) “Species of the Lactobacillus acidophilus complex,” Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology, 2:1151-1157. Robinson et al., eds. (Academic Press, San Diego, Calif.). Lactobacillus acidophilus can ferment hexoses, including lactose and more complex oligosaccharides, to produce lactic acid and lower the pH of the environment where the organism is cultured. Acidified environments (e.g., food, vagina, and regions within the gastrointestinal tract) can interfere with the growth of undesirable bacteria, pathogens, and yeasts. The organism is well known for its acid tolerance, survival in cultured dairy products, and viability during passage through the stomach and gastrointestinal tract. Lactobacilli and other commensal bacteria, some of which are considered probiotic bacteria that “favor life,” have been studied extensively for their effects on human health, particularly in the prevention or treatment of enteric infections, diarrheal disease, prevention of cancer, and stimulation of the immune system. Lactobacilli have also been studied for their influence on dairy product flavor, and functional and textural characteristics. Genetic characterization of other Lactobacillus species (e.g., L. johnsonii and L. rhamnosus) has been described (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,476,209; U.S. Pat. No. 6,544,772; U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 20020159976, 2003013882 & 20040009490; PCT Publication No. WO 2004/031389; PCT Publication No. 2003/084989; PCT Publication No. WO 2004/020467).

Bacterial growth requires specific transport systems to import nutrients from the external environment. Lactic acid bacteria transport molecules into and out of the cell via three systems: primary transport, secondary transport, and group translocation. In primary transport, chemical (primarily ATP), electrical, or solar energy is used to drive transport. ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are the most abundant class of primary transport systems in lactic acid bacteria. In this system, ATP hydrolysis is linked with substrate translocation across the membrane for both the import of sugars and compatible solutes and the export of products such as drugs or toxins that are undesirable to the cell, or cellular components that function outside of the cell, such as cell wall polysaccharides. In general, ABC transporters are relatively specific for their substrates, but some are multispecific, such as the multidrug transporters.

Secondary transport systems use electrochemical gradients to provide the energy for sugar translocation. They comprise symporters, which cotransport two or more solutes, uniporters, which transport one molecule, and antiporters, which countertransport two or more solutes. Symporters generally couple the uphill movement of the substrate to the downhill movement of a proton (or ion), antiporters use the ion gradient for excretion of a product, and uniporters do not use a coupling ion (Poolman (2002) Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 82:147-164).

Group translocation involves the phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS), which couples the uptake of a carbohydrate or alditol with its phosphorylation (Poolman (2002), supra). The phosphate group originates from the conversion of PEP into pyruvate, and the subsequent phosphorylation involves the energy coupling proteins, Enzyme I and HPr, as well as substrate-specific phosphoryl transfer proteins IIA, IIB and IIC.

Multidrug transporters may be separated into two major classes, secondary multidrug transporters and ABC transporters. Secondary multidrug transporters may be further divided into distinct families, including the major facilitator superfamily (MFS), the small multidrug resistance family (SMR), the resistance-nodulation-cell division family (RND), and the multidrug and toxic compound extrusion family (MATE) (Putman et al. (2000) Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Reviews 64:672-693). Secondary multidrug transporters use the electrochemical gradients, as described herein, to extrude drugs from the cell. ABC-type multidrug transporters use energy from ATP hydrolysis to pump drugs out of the cell (Putman et al. (2000), supra).

Bacteria are able to metabolize various carbohydrates by utilizing transport proteins and enzymes with different carbohydrate specificities, in addition to employing diverse regulatory mechanisms, such as catabolite repression. The isolation and characterization of these proteins allows for the development of essential probiotic products with numerous applications, including those that benefit human and/or animal health, and those concerned with food production and safety. The proteins can also be used in developing transgenic plants with altered growth or survival capabilities.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Compositions and methods for modifying microorganisms and plants are provided. Compositions of the invention include isolated nucleic acids from Lactobacillus acidophilus encoding carbohydrate utilization-related proteins, including proteins of the phosphotransferase system (PTS), ABC transporters, and other proteins involved in transport, degradation, and/or synthesis of sugars in Lactobacillus acidophilus. Compositions also include isolated nucleic acids from Lactobacillus acidophilus that encode multidrug transporters. Specifically, the present invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising, consisting essentially of and/or consisting of the nucleotide sequence as set forth in odd numbered SEQ ID NOS:1-321, singly and/or in any combination, and isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding the amino acid sequence as set forth found in even numbered SEQ ID NOS:2-322, singly and/or in any combination. Also provided are isolated and/or recombinant polypeptides comprising, consisting essentially of and/or consisting of an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid molecule described herein and/or as set forth in even numbered SEQ ID NOS:2-322, singly and/or in any combination. Variant nucleic acids and polypeptides sufficiently identical to the nucleotide sequences and amino acid sequences set forth in the Sequence Listing are encompassed by the present invention. Additionally, fragments and sufficiently identical fragments of the nucleotide sequences and amino acid sequences are encompassed. Nucleotide sequences that are complementary to a nucleic acid sequence of the invention, or that hybridize to a nucleotide sequence of the invention, are also encompassed.

Compositions further include vectors and prokaryotic, eukaryotic and plant cells for recombinant expression of the nucleic acids described herein, as well as transgenic microbial and plant populations comprising the vectors. Also included in the invention are methods for the recombinant production of the polypeptides of the invention, and methods for their use. Further included are methods and kits for detecting the presence of a nucleic acid and/or polypeptide sequence of the invention in a sample, and antibodies that bind to a polypeptide of the invention.

The carbohydrate utilization-related and multidrug transporter molecules of the present invention are useful for the selection and production of recombinant bacteria, particularly the production of bacteria with improved fermentative abilities. Such bacteria include, but are not limited to, bacteria that have a modified ability to synthesize, transport, accumulate, and/or utilize various carbohydrates, bacteria with altered flavors or textures, bacteria that produce altered carbohydrates, and bacteria better able to survive stressful conditions, such as those encountered in food processing and/or in the gastrointestinal tract of an animal. The multidrug transporter molecules of the present invention include those that allow bacteria to better survive contact with antimicrobial polypeptides, such as bacteriocins or other toxins. These carbohydrate utilization-related and multidrug transporter molecules are also useful for modifying plant species. Transgenic plants comprising one or more sequences of the present invention may be beneficial economically in that they are more resistance to environmental stresses, including, but not limited to, plant pathogens, high salt concentration, or dehydration. They may also be better able to withstand food processing and storage conditions.

The present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of a nucleic acid comprising, consisting of and/or consisting essentially of a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NOS:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 279, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 319 and/or 321 in any combination, including multiples of the same sequence, and/or a complement thereof, a nucleic acid comprising, consisting of and/or consisting essentially of a nucleotide sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 279, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 319 and/or 321 in any combination, including multiples of the same sequence, and/or a complement thereof, a nucleic acid comprising, consisting of and/or consisting essentially of a fragment of a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 279, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 319 and/or 321 in any combination, including multiples of the same sequence, and/or a complement thereof, a nucleic acid that encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320 and/or 322 in any combination, including multiples of the same sequence, and/or encoded by a nucleic acid molecule described herein, a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320 and/or 322 in any combination, including multiples of the same sequence, and/or encoded by a nucleic acid molecule described herein, and a nucleic acid that hybridizes under stringent conditions to any of the above.

Compositions further include vectors comprising the nucleic acids described herein, vectors further comprising a nucleic acid encoding a heterologous polypeptide, and cells, including bacterial, plant and eukaryotic cells, containing said vectors. Also included in the invention are methods for the recombinant production of the polypeptides of the invention, and methods for their use. Further included are methods and kits for detecting the presence of a nucleic acid or polypeptide sequence of the invention in a sample, and antibodies that bind to a polypeptide of the invention.

The present invention further provides an isolated polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: a) a polypeptide comprising, consisting of and/or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320 and/or 322 in any combination, including multiples of the same sequence, and/or encoded by a nucleic acid molecule described herein; b) a polypeptide comprising, consisting of and/or consisting essentially of a fragment of an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320 and/or 322 in any combination, including multiples of the same sequence, and/or encoded by a nucleic acid molecule described herein; c) a polypeptide comprising, consisting of and/or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity with an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320 and/or 322 in any combination, including multiples of the same sequence, and/or encoded by a nucleic acid molecule described herein; d) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleotide sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 279, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 319 and/or 321 in any combination; and e) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 279, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 319 and/or 321 in any combination.

Also provided is a polypeptide of this invention further comprising one or more heterologous amino acid sequences, and antibodies that selectively bind to the polypeptides described herein.

Additionally provided are methods for producing a polypeptide, said method comprising culturing the cell of this invention under conditions in which a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide is expressed, said polypeptide being selected from the group consisting of: a) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320 and/or 322 in any combination, including multiples of the same sequence, and/or encoded by a nucleic acid molecule described herein; b) a polypeptide comprising a fragment of an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320 and/or 322 in any combination, including multiples of the same sequence, and/or encoded by a nucleic acid molecule described herein; c) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity with an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320 and/or 322 in any combination, including multiples of the same sequence, and/or encoded by a nucleic acid molecule described herein; d) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleotide sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 279, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 319 and/or 321 in any combination; and e) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 279, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 319 and/or 321 in any combination.

Also provided are methods for detecting the presence of a polypeptide in a sample, said method comprising contacting the sample with a compound that selectively binds to a polypeptide and determining whether the compound binds to the polypeptide in the sample; wherein said polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of: a) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 279, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 319 and/or 321 in any combination; b) a polypeptide comprising a fragment of an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 279, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 319 and/or 321 in any combination; c) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleotide sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 279, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 319 and/or 321 in any combination; d) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320 and/or 322 in any combination; and e) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320 and/or 322 in any combination.

Additionally provided are methods for detecting the presence of a polypeptide in a sample, said method comprising contacting the sample with a compound that selectively binds to a polypeptide and determining whether the compound binds to the polypeptide in the sample of the invention, wherein the compound that binds to the polypeptide is an antibody. Also provided is a kit comprising a compound for use in the methods of the invention and instructions for use.

The present invention also provides methods for detecting the presence of a nucleic acid molecule and/or fragments thereof of this invention in a sample, comprising: a) contacting the sample with a nucleic acid probe or primer that selectively hybridizes to the nucleic acid molecule and/or fragment thereof, and b) determining whether the nucleic acid probe or primer hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule in the sample, thereby detecting the presence of a nucleic acid molecule and/or fragment thereof of this invention in the sample. Also provided are methods for detecting the presence of a nucleic acid molecule and/or fragment of the invention in a sample wherein the sample comprises mRNA molecules and is contacted with a nucleic acid probe. Additionally provided herein is a kit comprising a compound that selectively hybridizes to a nucleic acid of the invention, and instructions for use.

Additionally provided are methods for 1) modifying the ability of an organism to transport a carbohydrate into or out of a cell; 2) modifying the ability of an organism to accumulate a carbohydrate; 3) modifying the ability of an organism to utilize a carbohydrate as an energy source; 4) modifying the ability of an organism to produce a modified carbohydrate; 5) modifying the flavor of a food product fermented by a microorganism; 6) modifying the texture of a food product fermented by a microorganism; 7) modifying the ability of an organism to survive food processing and storage conditions; 8) modifying the ability of a microorganism to survive in a gastro-intestinal (GI) tract; 9) modifying the ability of an organism to transport a drug into or out of a cell; and 10) modifying the ability of an organism to produce a carbohydrate, comprising introducing into said organism and/or microorganism a vector comprising at least one nucleotide sequence of this invention and/or at least one nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: a) a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 279, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 319 and/or 321 in any combination; b) a nucleotide sequence comprising a fragment of a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 279, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 319 and/or 321 in any combination, wherein said fragment encodes a polypeptide that retains activity; c) a nucleotide sequence that is at least 90% identical to the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 279, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 319 and/or 321 in any combination, wherein said nucleotide sequence encodes a polypeptide that retains activity; and d) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320 and/or 322 in any combination, wherein said polypeptide retains activity; and e) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320 and/or 322 in any combination.

Further provided herein is 1) a Lactobacillus acidophilus bacterial strain with a modified ability to transport a carbohydrate into or out of a cell as compared to a wild-type Lactobacillus acidophilus; 2) a Lactobacillus acidophilus bacterial strain with a modified ability to accumulate a carbohydrate, as compared to a wild-type Lactobacillus acidophilus; 3) a Lactobacillus acidophilus bacterial strain with a modified ability to utilize a carbohydrate as an energy source, as compared to a wild-type Lactobacillus acidophilus; 4) a Lactobacillus acidophilus bacterial strain that provides a food product with a modified flavor as a result of fermentation, as compared to a wild-type Lactobacillus acidophilus; 5) a Lactobacillus acidophilus bacterial strain that provides a food product with a modified texture as a result of fermentation, as compared to a wild-type Lactobacillus acidophilus; 6) a Lactobacillus acidophilus bacterial strain with a modified ability to produce a carbohydrate, as compared to a wild-type Lactobacillus acidophilus; 7) a Lactobacillus acidophilus bacterial strain with a modified ability to survive food processing and storage conditions, as compared to a wild-type Lactobacillus acidophilus; and 8) a Lactobacillus acidophilus bacterial strain with a modified ability to survive in a GI tract, as compared to a wild-type Lactobacillus acidophilus, wherein said modified ability, flavor and/or texture is due to expression of at least one carbohydrate utilization-related polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320 and/or 322 in any combination.

Additionally provided is a Lactobacillus acidophilus bacterial strain with a modified ability to survive contact with an antimicrobial polypeptide or toxin, as compared to a wild-type Lactobacillus acidophilus, wherein said modified ability is due to expression of at least one multidrug transport polypeptide as set forth in even SEQ ID NOs:78-88, 92-94, 124-126, 132, 282-288, 308 and/or 312-322.

Also provided is a plant, a plant cell and/or a seed of a plant, having stably incorporated into its genome a DNA construct comprising at least one nucleotide sequence of this invention and/or at least one nucleotide sequence of this invention, selected from the group consisting of: a) a nucleotide sequence as set forth in any of SEQ ID NOs:1-321, singly and/or in any combination, or a complement thereof; b) a nucleotide sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to a nucleotide sequence as set forth in any of SEQ ID NOs:1-321, singly and/or in any combination, or a complement thereof; c) a nucleotide sequence comprising a fragment of a nucleotide sequence as set forth in any of SEQ ID NOs:1-321, singly and/or in any combination, or a complement thereof; d) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence as set forth in any of SEQ ID NOs:2-322; e) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence as set forth in any of SEQ ID NOs:2-322 and f) a nucleotide sequence that hybridizes under stringent conditions to any of a)-e).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Genetic loci of interest. The layouts of the loci discussed in the text are shown: man, glucose-mannose locus; fru, fructose locus; suc, sucrose locus; fos, FOS locus; raff, raffinose locus; Lac, lactose-galactose loci; tre, trehalose locus; CCR, carbon catabolite loci.

FIG. 2. Carbohydrate utilization in Lactobacillus acidophilus. This diagram shows carbohydrate transporters and hydrolases as predicted by transcriptional profiles. Protein names and EC numbers are specified for each element. PTS transporters are shown in black. GPH transporters are shown in light gray. ABC transporters are shown in dark gray.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to carbohydrate utilization-related and multidrug transport molecules from Lactobacillus acidophilus. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the carbohydrate utilization-related and multidrug transport molecules are provided. The sequences are useful for modifying microorganisms, cells and plants for enhanced properties.

As used herein, “a,” “an” and “the” can be plural or singular as used throughout the specification and claims. For example “a” cell can mean a single cell or a multiplicity of cells.

Also as used herein, “and/or” refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items, as well as the lack of combinations when interpreted in the alternative (“or”).

By “carbohydrate utilization-related” molecules or genes is meant novel sequences from Lactobacillus acidophilus that encode proteins involved in the utilization of carbohydrate molecules, including, but not limited to, the synthesis, transport, or degradation of carbohydrates. By “multidrug transporter” molecules is meant those that are involved in the transport of antimicrobial polypeptides such as bacteriocins, or other drugs or toxins. See Table 1 for specific carbohydrate utilization-related and multidrug transporter molecules of the present invention. The full-length gene sequences are referred to as “carbohydrate utilization-related sequences” or “multidrug transporter sequences,” showing that they have similarity to carbohydrate utilization-related genes or multidrug transporter genes, respectively. The invention further provides fragments and variants of these carbohydrate utilization related sequences or multidrug transporter sequences, which can also be used to practice methods of the present invention.

By “carbohydrate” is meant an organic compound containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, usually in the ratio 1:2:1. Carbohydrates include, but are not limited to, sugars, starches, celluloses, and gums. As used herein, the terms “gene” and “recombinant gene” refer to nucleic acids comprising an open reading frame, particularly those encoding a carbohydrate utilization-related protein or a multidrug transporter protein. Isolated nucleic acids of the present invention comprise nucleic acid sequences encoding carbohydrate utilization-related proteins or multidrug transporter proteins, nucleic acid sequences encoding the amino acid sequences set forth in even numbered SEQ ID NOS:2-322, the nucleic acid sequences set forth in odd numbered SEQ ID NOS:1-321, and variants and fragments thereof. The present invention also encompasses antisense nucleic acids, as described below.

In addition, isolated polypeptides and proteins having carbohydrate utilization-related activity or multidrug transporter activity, and variants and fragments thereof, are encompassed, as well as methods for producing those polypeptides. For purposes of the present invention, the terms “protein” and “polypeptide” are used interchangeably. The polypeptides of the present invention have carbohydrate utilization-related protein activity or multidrug transporter activity. Carbohydrate utilization-related protein activity or multidrug transporter activity refers to a biological or functional activity as determined in vivo or in vitro according to standard assay techniques. These activities include, but are not limited to, the ability to synthesize a carbohydrate, the ability to transport a carbohydrate into or out of a cell, the ability to degrade a carbohydrate, the ability to regulate the concentration of a carbohydrate in a cell, the ability to bind a carbohydrate, and the ability to transport a drug or toxin into or out of a cell.

The structures of the various types of bacterial transporters are well known in the art. The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily of transporters consists of proteins with four core domains (Higgins et al. (1986) Nature 323:448-450; Hyde et al. (1990) Nature 346:362-365; Higgins (2001) Res. Microbiol. 152:205-210). Typically there are two transmembrane domains with six membrane-spanning alpha helices per domain, and two ATP-binding domains that contain the core amino acids by which the transporters are defined (Higgins (2001) supra.), as well as the other conserved motifs including the Walker A and Walker B motifs (Walker et al. (1982) EMBO J. 1:945-951; Prosite Ref No. PDOC00185).

The secondary transport system proteins include the galactoside-pentose-hexuronide group of translocators (Poolman et al. (1996) Mol. Microbiol. 19:911-922). These proteins generally consist of a hydrophobic domain comprising twelve membrane spanning domains and a carboxyterminal enzyme IIA domain (Poolman et al. (1989) J. Bacteriol. 171:244-253).

The phosphotransferase system (PTS) proteins include enzyme-I (Prosite Ref. No. PDOC00527), the phosphoryl carrier proteins (HPr) (Prosite Ref. No. PDOC00318), and the sugar-specific permease, which consists of at least three structurally distinct domains (Prosite Ref. Nos. PDOC00528; PDOC00795). The HPr protein contains two conserved phosphorylation sites, a histidine residue at the amino-terminal side that is phosphorylated by Enzyme I, and a serine residue at the carboxy-terminal side of the protein that may be phosphorylated by an ATP-dependent protein kinase (de Vos (1996) Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 70:223-242).

Members of the major facilitator super family (MFS) of multidrug transporters have either 12 or 14 transmembrane segments. Members of the small multidrug resistance family (SMR) of multidrug transporters are thought to form a tightly packed four-helix antiparallel bundle. Members of the resistance nodulation-cell division family (RND) contain a single N-terminal transmembrane segment and a large C-terminal periplasmic domain (Putman et al. (2000) Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Reviews 64:672-693). Conserved motifs within each of these types of multidrug transporters and also throughout the multidrug transporters of the MFS, SMR, and RND families, as well as specific proteins from various bacteria (with Accession Nos.) have been described (Putman et al. (2000) supra).

The nucleic acid and protein compositions encompassed by the present invention are isolated or substantially purified. By “isolated” or “substantially purified” is meant that the nucleic acid or protein molecules, or biologically active fragments or variants thereof, are substantially or essentially free from components normally found in association with the nucleic acid or protein in its natural state. Such components include other cellular material, culture medium from recombinant production, and/or various chemicals used in chemically synthesizing the proteins or nucleic acids. Preferably, an “isolated” nucleic acid of the present invention is free of nucleic acid sequences that flank the nucleic acid of interest in the genomic DNA of the organism from which the nucleic acid was obtained (such as coding sequences present at the 5′ or 3′ ends). However, the molecule may include some additional bases or moieties that do not deleteriously affect the basic characteristics of the composition. For example, in various embodiments, the isolated nucleic acid contains less than 5 kb, 4 kb, 3 kb, 2 kb, 1 kb, 0.5 kb, or 0.1 kb of nucleic acid sequence normally associated with the genomic DNA in the cells from which it was obtained. Similarly, a substantially purified protein has less than about 30%, 20%, 10%, 5%, or 1% (by dry weight) of contaminating protein, or non-carbohydrate utilization-related protein. When the protein is recombinantly produced, preferably culture medium represents less than 30%, 20%, 10%, or 5% of the volume of the protein preparation, and when the protein is produced chemically, preferably the preparations have less than about 30%, 20%, 10%, or 5% (by dry weight) of chemical precursors, or non-carbohydrate utilization-related chemicals.

The compositions and methods of the present invention can be used to modulate the function of the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter molecules of Lactobacillus acidophilus. By “modulate,” “alter,” or “modify” is meant the up- or downregulation of a target biological activity. Proteins of the invention are useful in modifying the biological activities of lactic acid bacteria, and also in modifying the nutritional or health-promoting characteristics of foods fermented by such bacteria. Nucleotide molecules of the invention are useful in modulating carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein expression by lactic acid bacteria. Up- or downregulation of expression from a nucleic acid of the present invention is encompassed. Upregulation may be accomplished, for example, by providing multiple gene copies, modulating expression by modifying regulatory elements, promoting transcriptional or translational mechanisms, or other means. Downregulation may be accomplished, for example, by using known antisense and gene silencing techniques.

By “lactic acid bacteria” is meant bacteria from a genus selected from the following: Aerococcus, Carnobacterium, Enterococcus, Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Oenococcus, Pediococcus, Streptococcus, Melissococcus, Alloiococcus, Dolosigranulum, Lactosphaera, Tetragenococcus, Vagococcus, and Weissella (Holzapfel et al. (2001) Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 73:365S-373S; Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, Vol. 2 (Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore; (1986)) pp. 1075-1079).

The polypeptides of the present invention or microbes expressing them are useful as nutritional additives or supplements, and as additives in dairy and fermentation processing. The nucleic acid sequences, encoded polypeptides, and microorganisms expressing them are useful in the manufacture of milk-derived products, such as cheeses, yogurt, fermented milk products, sour milks, and buttermilk. Microorganisms that express polypeptides of the invention may be probiotic organisms. By “probiotic” is meant a live microorganism that survives passage through the gastrointestinal tract and has a beneficial effect on the subject. By “subject” is meant an organism that comes into contact with a microorganism expressing a protein of the present invention. Subject may refer to humans and other animals.

In addition to the carbohydrate utilization-related and multidrug transporter nucleotide sequences and fragments and variants thereof as disclosed herein, the nucleic acids of the current invention also encompass homologous nucleic acid sequences identified and isolated from other organisms or cells by hybridization with entire or partial sequences obtained from the carbohydrate utilization-related and multidrug transporter nucleotide sequences or variants and fragments thereof as disclosed herein.

Fragments and Variants

The invention provides isolated nucleic acids comprising nucleotide sequences encoding carbohydrate utilization-related and multidrug transporter proteins, as well as the carbohydrate utilization-related and multidrug transporter proteins encoded thereby. By “carbohydrate utilization-related protein” is meant a protein having an amino acid sequence as set forth in even numbered SEQ ID NOS:2-322. Fragments and variants of these nucleotide sequences and encoded proteins are also provided. By “fragment” of a nucleotide sequence or protein is meant a portion of the nucleotide or amino acid sequence.

Fragments of the nucleic acids disclosed herein can be used as hybridization probes to identify carbohydrate utilization-related-encoding nucleic acids or multidrug transporter-encoding nucleic acids, or can be used as primers in amplification protocols [e.g., polymerase chain reaction (PCR)] or mutation of carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter nucleic acids. Fragments of nucleic acids of this invention can also be bound to a physical substrate to comprise what may be considered a macro- or microarray (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,832; U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,242; WO 89/10977; WO 89/11548; WO 93/17126; U.S. Pat. No. 6,309,823). Such arrays or “chips” of nucleic acids may be used to study gene expression or to identify nucleic acids with sufficient identity to the target sequences.

The present invention further provides a nucleic acid array or chip, i.e., a multitude of nucleic acids (e.g., DNA) as molecular probes precisely organized or arrayed on a solid support, which allow for the sequencing of genes, the study of mutations contained therein and/or the analysis of the expression of genes, as such arrays and chips are currently of interest given their very small size and their high capacity in terms of number of analyses.

The function of these nucleic acid arrays/chips is based on molecular probes, mainly oligonucleotides, which are attached to a carrier having a size of generally a few square centimeters or more, as desired. For an analysis, the carrier, such as in a DNA array/chip, is coated with DNA probes (e.g., oligonucleotides) that are arranged at a predetermined location or position on the carrier. A sample containing a target nucleic acid and/or fragments thereof to be analyzed, for example DNA or RNA or cDNA, that has been labeled beforehand, is contacted with the DNA array/chip leading to the formation, through hybridization, of a duplex. After a washing step, analysis of the surface of the chip allows any hybridizations to be located by means of the signals emitted by the labeled target. A hybridization fingerprint results, which, by computer processing, allows retrieval of information such as the expression of genes, the presence of specific fragments in the sample, the determination of sequences and/or the identification of mutations.

In one embodiment of this invention, hybridization between target nucleic acids and nucleic acids of the invention, used in the form of probes and deposited or synthesized in situ on a DNA chip/array, can be determined by means of fluorescence, radioactivity, electronic detection or the like, as are well known in the art.

In another embodiment, the nucleotide sequences of the invention can be used in the form of a DNA array/chip to carry out analyses of the expression of Lactobacillus acidophilus genes. This analysis is based on DNA array/chips on which probes, chosen for their specificity to characterize a given gene or nucleotide sequence, are present. The target sequences to be analyzed are labeled before being hybridized onto the chip. After washing, the labeled complexes are detected and quantified, with the hybridizations being carried out at least in duplicate. Comparative analyses of the signal intensities obtained with respect to the same probe for different samples and/or for different probes with the same sample, allows, for example, for differential transcription of RNA derived from the sample.

In yet another embodiment, arrays/chips containing nucleotide sequences of the invention can comprise nucleotide sequences specific for other microorganisms, which allows for serial testing and rapid identification of the presence of a microorganism in a sample.

In a further embodiment, the principle of the DNA array/chip can also be used to produce protein arrays/chips on which the support has been coated with a polypeptide and/or an antibody of this invention, or arrays thereof; in place of the nucleic acid. These protein arrays/chips make it possible, for example, to analyze the biomolecular interactions induced by the affinity capture of targets onto a support coated, e.g., with proteins, by surface plasma resonance (SPR). The polypeptides or antibodies of this invention, capable of specifically binding antibodies or polypeptides derived from the sample to be analyzed, can be used in protein arrays/chips for the detection and/or identification of proteins and/or peptides in a sample.

Thus, the present invention provides a microarray or microchip comprising various nucleic acids of this invention in any combination, including repeats, as well as a microarray comprising various polypeptides of this invention in any combination, including repeats. Also provided is a microarray comprising antibodies that specifically react with various polypeptides of this invention, in any combination, including repeats.

By “nucleic acid” is meant DNA molecules (e.g., cDNA or genomic DNA) and RNA molecules (e.g., mRNA) and analogs of the DNA or RNA generated using nucleotide analogs. The nucleic acid can be single-stranded or double-stranded, but is typically double-stranded DNA. A fragment of a nucleic acid encoding a carbohydrate utilization-related protein or a multidrug transporter protein may encode a protein fragment that is biologically active, or it may be used as a hybridization probe or PCR primer as described herein. A biologically active fragment of a polypeptide disclosed herein can be prepared by isolating a portion of one of the nucleotide sequences of the invention, expressing the encoded portion of the protein (e.g., by recombinant expression in vitro), and assessing the activity of the encoded portion of the protein. Fragments of nucleic acids encoding carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter proteins comprise at least about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 75, 100, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 750, 800, 850, 900, 950, 1000, 1050, 1100, 1150, 1200, 1250, 1300, 1350, 1400, 1450, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2200, or 2500 contiguous nucleotides, including any number between 5 and 2500 not specifically recited herein, or up to the total number of nucleotides present in a full-length carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter nucleotide sequence as disclosed herein (for example, 432 for SEQ ID NO:1, 369 for SEQ ID NO:3, etc.).

Fragments of amino acid sequences include polypeptide fragments suitable for use as immunogens to raise anti-carbohydrate utilization-related or anti-multidrug transporter antibodies. Fragments include peptides comprising amino acid sequences sufficiently identical to or derived from the amino acid sequence of a carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein, or partial-length protein, of the invention and exhibiting at least one activity of a carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein, but which include fewer amino acids than the full-length proteins disclosed herein. Typically, biologically active portions comprise a domain or motif with at least one activity of the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein. A biologically active portion of a carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein can be a polypeptide that is, for example, 10, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650 contiguous amino acids in length, or any number between 10 and 650 not specifically recited herein, up to the total number of amino acids present in a full-length protein of the current invention (for example, 144 for SEQ ID NO:2, 123 for SEQ ID NO:4, etc.). Such biologically active portions can be prepared by recombinant techniques and evaluated for one or more of the functional activities of a native carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein. As used here, a fragment comprises at least 5 contiguous amino acids of any of even numbered SEQ ID NOS:2-322. The invention encompasses other fragments, however, such as any fragment in the protein greater than 6, 7, 8, or 9 amino acids.

Variants of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences are encompassed in the present invention. By “variant” is meant a sufficiently identical sequence. Accordingly, the invention encompasses isolated nucleic acids that are sufficiently identical to the nucleotide sequences encoding carbohydrate utilization-related proteins and multidrug transporter proteins in even numbered SEQ ID NOS:2-322, or nucleic acids that hybridize to a nucleic acid of odd numbered SEQ ID NOS:1-321, or a complement thereof, under stringent conditions. Variants also include polypeptides encoded by the variant nucleotide sequences of the present invention. In addition, polypeptides of the current invention have an amino acid sequence that is sufficiently identical to an amino acid sequence set forth in even numbered SEQ ID NOS:1-320. By “sufficiently identical” is meant that a first amino acid or nucleotide sequence contains a sufficient or minimal number of equivalent or identical amino acid residues as compared to a second amino acid or nucleotide sequence, thus providing a common structural domain and/or indicating a common functional activity. Conservative variants include those sequences that differ due to the degeneracy of the genetic code.

In general, amino acid or nucleotide sequences that have at least about 45%, 55%, or 65% identity, preferably at least about 70% or 75% identity, more preferably at least about 80%, 85% or 90%, most preferably at least about 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% sequence identity to any of the amino acid sequences of even numbered SEQ ID NOS:2-322 or any of the nucleotide sequences of odd numbered SEQ ID NOS:1-321, respectively, are defined herein as sufficiently identical. Variant proteins encompassed by the present invention are biologically active, that is they retain the desired biological activity of the native protein, that is, carbohydrate utilization-related activity or multidrug transporter activity as described herein. A biologically active variant of a protein of the invention may differ from that protein by as few as 1-15 amino acid residues, as few as 1-10, such as 6-10, as few as 5, as few as 4, 3, 2, or even 1 amino acid residue.

Naturally occurring variants may exist within a population (e.g., the Lactobacillus acidophilus population). Such variants can be identified by using well-known molecular biology techniques, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and hybridization as described below. Synthetically derived nucleotide sequences, for example, sequences generated by site-directed mutagenesis or PCR-mediated mutagenesis, that still encode a carbohydrate utilization-related protein or multidrug transporter protein, are also included as variants. One or more nucleotide or amino acid substitutions, additions, or deletions can be introduced into a nucleotide or amino acid sequence disclosed herein, such that the substitutions, additions, or deletions are introduced into the encoded protein. The additions (insertions) or deletions (truncations) may be made at the N-terminal or C-terminal end of the native protein, or at one or more sites in the native protein. Similarly, a substitution of one or more nucleotides or amino acids may be made at one or more sites in the native protein.

For example, conservative amino acid substitutions may be made at one or more predicted, preferably nonessential amino acid residues. A “nonessential” amino acid residue is a residue that can be altered from the wild-type sequence of a protein without altering the biological activity, whereas an “essential” amino acid is required for biological activity. A “conservative amino acid substitution” is one in which the amino acid residue is replaced with an amino acid residue with a similar side chain. Families of amino acid residues having similar side chains are known in the art. These families include amino acids with basic side chains (e.g., lysine, arginine, histidine), acidic side chains (e.g., aspartic acid, glutamic acid), uncharged polar side chains (e.g., glycine, asparagine, glutamine, serine, threonine, tyrosine, cysteine), nonpolar side chains (e.g., alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, methionine, tryptophan), beta-branched side chains (e.g., threonine, valine, isoleucine) and aromatic side chains (e.g., tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, histidine). Such substitutions would not be made for conserved amino acid residues, or for amino acid residues residing within a conserved motif, where such residues are essential for protein activity.

Alternatively, mutations can be made randomly along all or part of the length of the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter coding sequence, such as by saturation mutagenesis. The mutants can be expressed recombinantly, and screened for those that retain biological activity by assaying for carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter activity using standard assay techniques. Methods for mutagenesis and nucleotide sequence alterations are known in the art. See, for example, Kunkel (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:488-492; Kunkel et al. (1987) Methods in Enzymol. Molecular Biology (MacMillan Publishing Company, New York) and the references sited therein. Obviously the mutations made in the DNA encoding the variant must not disrupt the reading frame and preferably will not create complementary regions that could produce secondary mRNA structure. See, EP Patent Application Publication No. 75,444. Guidance as to appropriate amino acid substitutions that do not effect biological activity of the protein of interest may be found in the model of Dayhoff et al. (1978) Atlas of Protein Sequence and Structure (Natl. Biomed. Res. Found., Washington, D.C.), herein incorporated by reference.

The deletions, insertions, and substitutions of the protein sequences encompassed herein are not expected to produce radical changes in the characteristics of the protein. However, when it is difficult to predict the exact effect of the substitution, deletion, or insertion in advance of doing so, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the effect will be evaluated by routine screening assays. That is, the activity can be evaluated by comparing the activity of the modified sequence with the activity of the original sequence. See the “Methods of Use” section below for examples of assays that may be used to measure carbohydrate utilization-related activity or multidrug transporter activity.

Variant nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the present invention also encompass sequences derived from mutagenic and recombinogenic procedures such as DNA shuffling. With such a procedure, one or more different carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein coding regions can be used to create a new carbohydrate utilization-related protein or a new multidrug transporter protein possessing the desired properties. In this manner, libraries of recombinant polynucleotides are generated from a population of related sequence polynucleotides comprising sequence regions that have substantial sequence identity and can be homologously recombined in vitro or in vivo. For example, using this approach, sequence motifs encoding a domain of interest may be shuffled between the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter gene of the invention and other known carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter genes to obtain a new gene coding for a protein with an improved property of interest, such as an increased K_(m) in the case of an enzyme. Strategies for such DNA shuffling are known in the art. See, for example, Stemmer (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:10747-10751; Stemmer (1994) Nature 370:389-391; Crameri et al. (1997) Nature Biotech. 15:436-438; Moore et al. (1997) J. Mol. Biol. 272:336-347; Zhang et al. (1997) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94:4504-4509; Crameri et al. (1998) Nature 391:288-291; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,605,793 and 5,837,458.

Variants of the carbohydrate utilization-related and multidrug transporter proteins can function as either agonists (mimetics) or as antagonists. An agonist of the protein can retain substantially the same, or a subset, of the biological activities of the naturally occurring form of the protein. An antagonist of the protein can inhibit one or more of the activities of the naturally occurring form of the protein by, for example, competitively binding to a downstream or upstream member of a cellular signaling cascade that includes the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein.

Variants of a carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein that function as either agonists or antagonists can be identified by screening combinatorial libraries of mutants, e.g., truncation mutants, of a carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein for agonist or antagonist activity. In one embodiment, a variegated library of carbohydrate utilization-related variants is generated by combinatorial mutagenesis at the nucleic acid level and is encoded by a variegated gene library. A variegated library of carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter variants can be produced by, for example, enzymatically ligating a mixture of synthetic oligonucleotides into gene sequences such that a degenerate set of potential carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter sequences is expressible as individual polypeptides, or alternatively, as a set of larger fusion proteins (e.g., for phage display) containing the set of carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter sequences therein. There are a variety of methods that can be used to produce libraries of potential carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter variants from a degenerate oligonucleotide sequence. Chemical synthesis of a degenerate gene sequence can be performed in an automatic DNA synthesizer, and the synthetic gene then ligated into an appropriate expression vector. Use of a degenerate set of genes allows for the provision, in one mixture, of all of the sequences encoding the desired set of potential carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter sequences. Methods for synthesizing degenerate oligonucleotides are known in the art (see, e.g., Narang (1983) Tetrahedron 39:3; Itakura et al. (1984) Annu. Rev. Biochem. 53:323; Itakura et al. (1984) Science 198:1056; Ike et al. (1983) Nucleic Acids Res. 11:477).

In addition, libraries of fragments of a carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein coding sequence can be used to generate a variegated population of carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter fragments for screening and subsequent selection of variants of a carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein. In one embodiment, a library of coding sequence fragments can be generated by treating a double-stranded PCR fragment of a carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter coding sequence with a nuclease under conditions wherein nicking occurs only about once per molecule, denaturing the double-stranded DNA, renaturing the DNA to form double-stranded DNA which can include sense/antisense pairs from different nicked products, removing single-stranded portions from reformed duplexes by treatment with S1 nuclease, and ligating the resulting fragment library into an expression vector. By this method, one can derive an expression library that encodes N-terminal and internal fragments of various sizes of the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein.

Several techniques are known in the art for screening gene products of combinatorial libraries made by point mutations or truncation and for screening cDNA libraries for gene products having a selected property. Such techniques are adaptable for rapid screening of the gene libraries generated by the combinatorial mutagenesis of carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter proteins. The most widely used techniques, which are amenable to high through-put analysis, for screening large gene libraries typically include cloning the gene library into replicable expression vectors, transforming appropriate cells with the resulting library of vectors, and expressing the combinatorial genes under conditions in which detection of a desired activity facilitates isolation of the vector encoding the gene whose product was detected. Recursive ensemble mutagenesis (REM), a technique that enhances the frequency of functional mutants in the libraries, can be used in combination with the screening assays to identify carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter variants (Arkin and Yourvan (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:7811-7815; Delgrave et al. (1993) Protein Engineering 6(3):327-331).

Sequence Identity

The carbohydrate utilization-related and multidrug transporter sequences are members of families of molecules with conserved functional features. By “family” is meant two or more proteins or nucleic acids having sufficient nucleotide or amino acid sequence identity. By “sequence identity” is meant the nucleotide or amino acid residues that are the same when aligning two sequences for maximum correspondence over a specified comparison window. By “comparison window” is meant a contiguous segment of the two nucleotide or amino acid sequences for optimal alignment, wherein the second sequence may contain additions or deletions (i.e., gaps) as compared to the first sequence. Generally, for nucleic acid alignments, the comparison window is at least 20 contiguous nucleotides in length, and optionally can be 30, 40, 50, 100, or longer. For amino acid sequence alignments, the comparison window is at least 6 contiguous amino acids in length, and optionally can be 10, 15, 20, 30, or longer. Those of skill in the art understand that to avoid a high similarity due to inclusion of gaps, a gap penalty is typically introduced and is subtracted from the number of matches.

Family members may be from the same or different species, and can include homologues as well as distinct proteins. Often, members of a family display common functional characteristics. Homologues can be isolated based on their identity to the Lactobacillus acidophilus carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter nucleic acid sequences disclosed herein using the cDNA, or a portion thereof, as a hybridization probe according to standard hybridization techniques under stringent hybridization conditions as disclosed below.

To determine the percent identity of two amino acid or nucleotide sequences, an alignment is performed. Percent identity of the two sequences is a function of the number of identical residues shared by the two sequences in the comparison window (i.e., percent identity=number of identical residues/total number of residues×100). In one embodiment, the sequences are the same length. Methods similar to those mentioned below can be used to determine the percent identity between two sequences. The methods can be used with or without allowing gaps. Alignment may also be performed manually by inspection.

When amino acid sequences differ in conservative substitutions, the percent identity may be adjusted upward to correct for the conservative nature of the substitution. Means for making this adjustment are known in the art. Typically the conservative substitution is scored as a partial, rather than a full mismatch, thereby increasing the percentage sequence identity.

Mathematical algorithms can be used to determine the percent identity of two sequences. Non-limiting examples of mathematical algorithms are the algorithm of Karlin and Altschul (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:2264, modified as in Karlin and Altschul (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:5873-5877; the algorithm of Myers and Miller (1988) CABIOS 4:11-17; the local alignment algorithm of Smith et al. (1981) Adv. Appl. Math. 2:482; the global alignment algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch (1970) J. Mol. Biol. 48:443-453; and the search-for-local-alignment method of Pearson and Lipman (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:2444-2448.

Various computer implementations based on these mathematical algorithms have been designed to enable the determination of sequence identity. The BLAST programs of Altschul et al. (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 215:403 are based on the algorithm of Karlin and Altschul (1990) supra. Searches to obtain nucleotide sequences that are homologous to nucleotide sequences of the present invention can be performed with the BLASTN program, score=100, wordlength=12. To obtain amino acid sequences homologous to sequences encoding a protein or polypeptide of the current invention, the BLASTX program may be used, score=50, wordlength=3. Gapped alignments may be obtained by using Gapped BLAST (in BLAST 2.0) as described in Altschul et al. (1997) Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389. To detect distant relationships between molecules, PSI-BLAST can be used. See, Altschul et al. (1997) supra. For all of the BLAST programs, the default parameters of the respective programs can be used. Alignment may also be performed manually by inspection.

Another program that can be used to determine percent sequence identity is the ALIGN program (version 2.0), which uses the mathematical algorithm of Myers and Miller (1988) supra. A PAM 120 weight residue table, a gap length penalty of 12, and a gap penalty of 4 can be used with this program when comparing amino acid sequences.

In addition to the ALIGN and BLAST programs, the BESTFIT, GAP, FASTA and TFASTA programs are part of the GCG Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Version 10 (available from Accelrys Inc., 9685 Scranton Rd., San Diego, Calif., USA), and can be used for performing sequence alignments. The preferred program is GAP version 10, which used the algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch (1970) supra. Unless otherwise stated the sequence identity values provided herein refer to those values obtained by using GAP Version 10 with the following parameters: % identity and % similarity for a nucleotide sequence using GAP Weight of 50 and Length Weight of 3, and the nwsgapdna.cmp scoring matrix; % identity and % similarity for an amino acid sequence using GAP Weight of 8 and Length Weight of 2, and the BLOSUM62 scoring matrix; or any equivalent program thereof. By “equivalent program” is meant any sequence comparison program that, for any two sequences in question, generates an alignment having identical nucleotide or amino acid residue matches and an identical percent sequence identity when compared to the corresponding alignment generated by GAP Version 10.

Alignment of a sequence in a database to a queried sequence produced by BLASTN, FASTA, BLASTP or like algorithm is commonly described as a “hit.” Hits to one or more database sequences by a queried sequence produced by BLASTN, FASTA, BLASTP or a similar algorithm, align and identify similar portions of a sequence. A hit to a database sequence generally represents an overlap over a fraction of the sequence length of the queried sequence, i.e., a portion or fragment of the queried sequence. However, the overlap can represent the entire length of the queried sequence. The hits in an alignment to a queried sequence produced by BLASTN, FASTA, or BLASTP algorithms to sequences in a database are commonly arranged in order of the degree of similarity and the length of sequence overlap.

Polynucleotide and polypeptide hits aligned by BLASTN, FASTA, or BLASTP algorithms to a queried sequence produce “Expect” values. The Expect value (E value) indicates the number of hits one can “expect” to see over a certain number of contiguous sequences at random when searching a database of a certain size. The Expect value is used as a significance threshold for determining whether the hit to a database, such as the GenBank or the EMBL database, indicates actual similarity. For example, an E value of 0.1 assigned to a polynucleotide hit is interpreted as meaning that in a database of the size of the GenBank database, one might expect to see 0.1 matches over the aligned portion of the sequence with a similar score randomly. By this criterion, the aligned and matched portions of the polynucleotide sequences then have a probability of 90% of being the same. For sequences having an E value of 0.01 or less over aligned and matched portions, the probability of finding a match randomly in the GenBank database is 1% or less, using the BLASTN or FASTA algorithm.

According to an embodiment of this invention, “variant” polynucleotides and polypeptides of this invention, comprise sequences producing an E value of about 0.01 or less when compared to the polynucleotide or polypeptide sequences of the present invention. That is, a variant polynucleotide or polypeptide is any sequence that has at least a 99% probability of being the same as the polynucleotide or polypeptide of the present invention, measured as having an E value of 0.01 or less using the BLASTN, FASTA, or BLASTP algorithms set at parameters described herein. In other embodiments, a variant polynucleotide is a sequence having the same number of, or fewer nucleic acids than a polynucleotide of the present invention that has at least a 99% probability of being the same as the polynucleotide of the present invention, measured as having an E value of 0.01 or less using the BLASTN or FASTA algorithms set at parameters described herein. Similarly, a variant polypeptide is a sequence having the same number of, or fewer amino acids than a polypeptide of the present invention that has at least a 99% probability of being the same as a polypeptide of the present invention, measured as having an E value of 0.01 or less using the BLASTP algorithm set at the parameters described herein.

As noted above, the percentage identity is determined by aligning sequences using one of the BLASTN, FASTA, or BLASTP algorithms, set at the running parameters described herein, and identifying the number of identical nucleic acids or amino acids over the aligned portions; dividing the number of identical nucleic acids or amino acids by the total number of nucleic acids or amino acids of the polynucleotide or polypeptide sequence of the present invention; and then multiplying by 100 to determine the percent identity. For example, a polynucleotide of the present invention having 220 nucleic acids has a hit to a polynucleotide sequence in the GenBank database having 520 nucleic acids over a stretch of 23 nucleotides in the alignment produced by the BLASTN algorithm using the parameters described herein. The 23 nucleotide hit includes 21 identical nucleotides, one gap and one different nucleotide. The percent identity of the polynucleotide of the present invention to the hit in the GenBank library is thus 21/220 times 100, or 9.5%. The polynucleotide sequence in the GenBank database is thus not a variant of a polynucleotide of the present invention.

Identification and Isolation of Homologous Sequences

Carbohydrate utilization-related nucleotide sequences identified based on their sequence identity to the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter nucleotide sequences set forth herein or to fragments and variants thereof are encompassed by the present invention. Methods such as PCR or hybridization can be used to identify sequences from a cDNA or genomic library, for example that are substantially identical to a sequence of the invention. See, for example, Sambrook et al. (1989) Molecular Cloning: Laboratory Manual (2d ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Plainview, N.Y.) and Innis, et al. (1990) PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications (Academic Press, New York). Methods for construction of such cDNA and genomic libraries are generally known in the art and are also disclosed in the above reference.

In hybridization techniques, the hybridization probes may be genomic DNA fragments, cDNA fragments, RNA fragments, or other oligonucleotides, and may consist of all or part of a known nucleotide sequence disclosed herein. In addition, they may be labeled with a detectable group such as ³²P, or any other detectable marker, such as other radioisotopes, a fluorescent compound, an enzyme, or an enzyme co-factor. Probes for hybridization may be made by labeling synthetic oligonucleotides based on the known carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter nucleotide sequences disclosed herein. Degenerate primers designed on the basis of conserved nucleotides or amino acid residues in a known carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter nucleotide sequence or encoded amino acid sequence can additionally be used. The hybridization probe typically comprises a region of nucleotide sequence that hybridizes under stringent conditions to at least about 10, preferably about 20, more preferably about 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 250, 300, 350, or 400 consecutive nucleotides of a nucleotide sequence of the invention or a fragment or variant thereof. To achieve specific hybridization under a variety of conditions, such probes include sequences that are unique among carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein sequences. Preparation of probes for hybridization is generally known in the art and is disclosed in Sambrook et al. (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (2d ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Plainview, N.Y.), herein incorporated by reference.

In one embodiment, the entire nucleotide sequence encoding a carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein is used as a probe to identify novel carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter sequences and messenger RNAs. In another embodiment, the probe is a fragment of a nucleotide sequence disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the nucleotide sequence that hybridizes under stringent conditions to the probe can be at least about 300, 325, 350, 375, 400, 425, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1200, 1400, 1600, 1800, or 2000 nucleotides in length.

Substantially identical sequences will hybridize to each other under stringent conditions. By “stringent conditions” is meant conditions under which a probe will hybridize to its target sequence to a detectably greater degree than to other sequences (e.g., at least 2-fold over background). Generally, stringent conditions encompass those conditions for hybridization and washing under which nucleotides having at least about 60%, 65%, 70%, preferably 75% sequence identity typically remain hybridized to each other. Stringent conditions are known in the art and can be found in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (John Wiley & Sons, New York (1989)), 6.3.1-6.3.6. Hybridization typically occurs for less than about 24 hours, usually about 4 to about 12 hours.

Stringent conditions are sequence dependent and will differ in different circumstances. Full-length or partial nucleic acid sequences may be used to obtain homologues and orthologs encompassed by the present invention. By “orthologs” is meant genes derived from a common ancestral gene and which are found in different species as a result of speciation. Genes found in different species are considered orthologs when their nucleotide sequences and/or their encoded protein sequences share substantial identity as defined elsewhere herein. Functions of orthologs are often highly conserved among species.

When using probes, stringent conditions will be those in which the salt concentration is less than about 1.5 M Na ion, typically about 0.01 to 1.0 M Na ion concentration (or other salts) at pH 7.0 to 8.3 and the temperature is at least about 30° C. for short probes (e.g., 10 to 50 nucleotides) and at least about 60° C. for long probes (e.g., greater than 50 nucleotides).

The post-hybridization washes are instrumental in controlling specificity. The two critical factors are ionic strength and temperature of the final wash solution. For the detection of sequences that hybridize to a full-length or approximately full-length target sequence, the temperature under stringent conditions is selected to be about 5° C. lower than the thermal melting point (T_(m)) for the specific sequence at a defined ionic strength and pH. However, stringent conditions would encompass temperatures in the range of 1° C. to 20° C. lower than the T_(m), depending on the desired degree of stringency as otherwise qualified herein. For DNA-DNA hybrids, the T_(m) can be determined using the equation of Meinkoth and Wahl (1984) Anal. Biochem. 138:267-284: T_(m)=81.5° C.+16.6 (logM)+0.41 (% GC)−0.61 (% form)−500/L; where M is the molarity of monovalent cations, % GC is the percentage of guanosine and cytosine nucleotides in the DNA, % form is the percentage of formamide in the hybridization solution, and L is the length of the hybrid in base pairs. The T_(m) is the temperature (under defined ionic strength and pH) at which 50% of a complementary target sequence hybridizes to a perfectly matched probe.

The ability to detect sequences with varying degrees of homology can be obtained by varying the stringency of the hybridization and/or washing conditions. To target sequences that are 100% identical (homologous probing), stringency conditions must be obtained that do not allow mismatching. By allowing mismatching of nucleotide residues to occur, sequences with a lower degree of similarity can be detected (heterologous probing). For every 1% of mismatching, the T_(m) is reduced about 1° C.; therefore, hybridization and/or wash conditions can be manipulated to allow hybridization of sequences of a target percentage identity. For example, if sequences with ≧90% sequence identity are preferred, the T_(m) can be decreased by 10° C. Two nucleotide sequences could be substantially identical, but fail to hybridize to each other under stringent conditions, if the polypeptides they encode are substantially identical. This situation could arise, for example, if the maximum codon degeneracy of the genetic code is used to create a copy of a nucleic acid.

Exemplary low stringency conditions include hybridization with a buffer solution of 30-35% formamide, 1 M NaCl, 1% SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) at 37° C., and a wash in 1× to 2×SSC (20×SSC=3.0 M NaCl/0.3 M trisodium citrate) at 50 to 55° C. Exemplary moderate stringency conditions include hybridization in 40 to 45% formamide, 1.0 M NaCl, 1% SDS at 37° C., and a wash in 0.5× to 1×SSC at 55 to 60° C. Exemplary high stringency conditions include hybridization in 50% formamide, 1 M NaCl, 1% SDS at 37° C., and a wash in 0.1×SSC at 60 to 65° C. Optionally, wash buffers may comprise about 0.1% to about 1% SDS. Duration of hybridization is generally less than about 24 hours, usually about 4 to about 12 hours. An extensive guide to the hybridization of nucleic acids is found in Tijssen (1993) Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology—Hybridization with Nucleic Acid Probes, Part I, Chapter 2 (Elsevier, New York); and Ausubel et al., eds. (1995) Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Chapter 2 (Greene Publishing and Wiley-Interscience, New York). See Sambrook et al. (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (2d ed.; Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Plainview, N.Y.).

In a PCR approach, oligonucleotide primers can be designed for use in PCR reactions to amplify corresponding DNA sequences from cDNA or genomic DNA extracted from any organism of interest. PCR primers are preferably at least about 10 nucleotides in length, and most preferably at least about 20 nucleotides in length. Methods for designing PCR primers and PCR cloning are generally known in the art and are disclosed in Sambrook et al. (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (2d ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Plainview, N.Y.). See also Innis et al., eds. (1990) PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications (Academic Press, New York); Innis and Gelfand, eds. (1995) PCR Strategies (Academic Press, New York); and Innis and Gelfand, eds. (1999) PCR Methods Manual (Academic Press, New York). Known methods of PCR include, but are not limited to, methods using paired primers, nested primers, single specific primers, degenerate primers, gene-specific primers, vector-specific primers, partially-mismatched primers, and the like.

Assays

Diagnostic assays to detect expression of the disclosed polypeptides and/or nucleic acids as well as their disclosed activity in a sample are disclosed. An exemplary method for detecting the presence or absence of a disclosed nucleic acid or protein comprising the disclosed polypeptide in a sample involves obtaining a sample from a food/dairy/feed product, starter culture (mother, seed, bulk/set, concentrated, dried, lyophilized, frozen), cultured food/dairy/feed product, dietary supplement, bioprocessing fermentate, or a subject that has ingested a probiotic material, and contacting the sample with a compound or an agent capable of detecting the disclosed polypeptides or nucleic acids (e.g., an mRNA or genomic DNA comprising the disclosed nucleic acid or fragment thereof) such that the presence of the disclosed sequence is detected in the sample. Results obtained with a sample from the food, supplement, culture, product, or subject may be compared to results obtained with a sample from a control culture, product, or subject.

One agent for detecting the mRNA or genomic DNA comprising a disclosed nucleotide sequence is a labeled nucleic acid probe capable of hybridizing to the disclosed nucleotide sequence of the mRNA or genomic DNA. The nucleic acid probe can be, for example, a disclosed nucleic acid, such as a nucleic acid of odd numbered SEQ ID NOS:1-321, or a portion thereof, such as a nucleic acid of at least 15, 30, 50, 100, 250, or 500 nucleotides in length and sufficient to specifically hybridize under stringent conditions to the mRNA or genomic DNA comprising the disclosed nucleic acid sequence. Other suitable probes for use in the diagnostic assays of the invention are described herein.

One agent for detecting a protein comprising a disclosed polypeptide sequence is an antibody capable of binding to the disclosed polypeptide, preferably an antibody with a detectable label. Antibodies can be polyclonal, or more preferably, monoclonal. An intact antibody, or a fragment thereof (e.g., Fab or F(abN)₂) can be used. The term “labeled,” with regard to the probe or antibody, is meant to encompass direct labeling of the probe or antibody by coupling (i.e., physically linking) a detectable substance to the probe or antibody, as well as indirect labeling of the probe or antibody by reactivity with another reagent that is directly labeled. Examples of indirect labeling include detection of a primary antibody using a fluorescently labeled secondary antibody and end-labeling of a DNA probe with biotin such that it can be detected with fluorescently labeled streptavidin.

The term “sample” is meant to include tissues, cells, and biological fluids present in or isolated from a subject, as well as cells from starter cultures or food products carrying such cultures, or derived from the use of such cultures. That is, the detection method of the invention can be used to detect mRNA, protein, or genomic DNA comprising a disclosed sequence in a sample both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro techniques for detection of mRNA comprising a disclosed sequence include Northern hybridizations and in situ hybridizations. In vitro techniques for detection of a protein comprising a disclosed polypeptide include enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), Western blots, immunoprecipitations, and immunofluorescence. In vitro techniques for detection of genomic DNA comprising the disclosed nucleotide sequences include Southern hybridizations. Furthermore, in vivo techniques for detection of a protein comprising a disclosed polypeptide include introducing into a subject a labeled antibody against the disclosed polypeptide. For example, the antibody can be labeled with a radioactive marker whose presence and location in a subject can be detected by standard imaging techniques.

In one embodiment, the sample contains protein molecules from a test subject that has consumed a probiotic material. Alternatively, the sample can contain mRNA or genomic DNA from a starter culture.

The invention also encompasses kits for detecting the presence of disclosed nucleic acids or proteins comprising disclosed polypeptides in a sample. Such kits can be used to determine if a microbe expressing a specific polypeptide of the invention is present in a food product or starter culture, or in a subject that has consumed a probiotic material. For example, the kit can comprise a labeled compound or agent capable of detecting a disclosed polypeptide or mRNA in a sample and means for determining the amount of a the disclosed polypeptide in the sample (e.g., an antibody that recognizes the disclosed polypeptide or an oligonucleotide probe that binds to DNA encoding a disclosed polypeptide, e.g., even numbered SEQ ID NOS:2-322). Kits can also include instructions detailing the use of such compounds.

For antibody-based kits, the kit can comprise, for example: (1) a first antibody (e.g., attached to a solid support) that binds to a disclosed polypeptide; and, optionally, (2) a second, different antibody that binds to the disclosed polypeptide or the first antibody and is conjugated to a detectable agent. For oligonucleotide-based kits, the kit can comprise, for example: (1) an oligonucleotide, e.g., a detectably labeled oligonucleotide, that hybridizes to a disclosed nucleic acid sequence or (2) a pair of primers useful for amplifying a disclosed nucleic acid.

The kit can also comprise, e.g., a buffering agent, a preservative, or a protein stabilizing agent. The kit can also comprise components necessary for detecting the detectable agent (e.g., an enzyme or a substrate). The kit can also contain a control sample or a series of control samples that can be assayed and compared to the test sample contained. Each component of the kit is usually enclosed within an individual container, and all of the various containers are within a single package along with instructions for use.

In one embodiment, the kit comprises multiple probes in an array format, such as those described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,412,087 and 5,545,531, and International Publication No. WO 95/00530, herein incorporated by reference. Probes for use in the array may be synthesized either directly onto the surface of the array, as disclosed in International Publication No. WO 95/00530, or prior to immobilization onto the array surface (Gait, ed. (1984) Oligonucleotide Synthesis a Practical Approach IRL Press, Oxford, England). The probes may be immobilized onto the surface using techniques well known to one of skill in the art, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,087. Probes may be a nucleic acid or peptide sequence, preferably purified, or an antibody.

The arrays may be used to screen organisms, samples, or products for differences in their genomic, cDNA, polypeptide, or antibody content, including the presence or absence of specific sequences or proteins, as well as the concentration of those materials. Binding to a capture probe is detected, for example, by signal generated from a label attached to the nucleic acid comprising the disclosed nucleic acid sequence, a polypeptide comprising the disclosed amino acid sequence, or an antibody. The method can include contacting the molecule comprising the disclosed nucleic acid, polypeptide, or antibody with a first array having a plurality of capture probes and a second array having a different plurality of capture probes. The results of each hybridization can be compared to analyze differences in expression between a first and second sample. The first plurality of capture probes can be from a control sample, e.g., a wild type lactic acid bacteria, or control subject, e.g., a food, dietary supplement, starter culture sample, or a biological fluid. The second plurality of capture probes can be from an experimental sample, e.g., a mutant type lactic acid bacteria, or subject that has consumed a probiotic material, e.g., a starter culture sample or a biological fluid.

These assays may be especially useful in microbial selection and quality control procedures where the detection of unwanted materials is essential. The detection of particular nucleotide sequences or polypeptides may also be useful in determining the genetic composition of food, fermentation products, or industrial microbes, or microbes present in the digestive system of animals or humans that have consumed probiotics.

Antisense Nucleotide Sequences

The present invention also encompasses antisense nucleic acids, i.e., molecules that are complementary to a sense nucleic acid encoding a protein, e.g., complementary to the coding strand of a double-stranded cDNA molecule, or complementary to an mRNA sequence. Accordingly, an antisense nucleic acid can hydrogen bond to a sense nucleic acid. The antisense nucleic acid can be complementary to an entire carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter coding strand, or to only a portion thereof, e.g., all or part of the protein coding region (or open reading frame). An antisense nucleic acid can be antisense to a noncoding region of the coding strand of a nucleotide sequence encoding a carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein. The noncoding regions are the 5′ and 3′ sequences that flank the coding region and are not translated into amino acids. Antisense nucleotide sequences are useful in disrupting the expression of the target gene. Antisense constructions having 70%, preferably 80%, more preferably 85%, 90% or 95% sequence identity to the corresponding sequence may be used.

Given the coding-strand sequence encoding a carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein disclosed herein (e.g., even numbered SEQ ID NOS:2-322), antisense nucleic acids of the invention can be designed according to the rules of Watson and Crick base pairing. The antisense nucleic acid can be complementary to the entire coding region of carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter mRNA, but more preferably is an oligonucleotide that is antisense to only a portion of the coding or noncoding region of carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter mRNA. For example, the antisense oligonucleotide can be complementary to the region surrounding the translation start site of carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter mRNA. An antisense oligonucleotide can be, for example, about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 nucleotides in length, or it can be 100, 200 nucleotides, or greater in length. An antisense nucleic acid of the invention can be constructed using chemical synthesis and enzymatic ligation procedures known in the art.

For example, an antisense nucleic acid (e.g., an antisense oligonucleotide) can be chemically synthesized using naturally occurring nucleotides or variously modified nucleotides designed to increase the biological stability of the molecules or to increase the physical stability of the duplex formed between the antisense and sense nucleic acids, including, but not limited to, for example e.g., phosphorothioate derivatives and acridine substituted nucleotides. Alternatively, the antisense nucleic acid can be produced biologically using an expression vector into which a nucleic acid has been subcloned in an antisense orientation (i.e., RNA transcribed from the inserted nucleic acid will be of an antisense orientation to a target nucleic acid of interest).

An antisense nucleic acid of the invention can be an α-anomeric nucleic acid. An α-anomeric nucleic acid forms specific double-stranded hybrids with complementary RNA in which, contrary to the usual β-units, the strands run parallel to each other (Gaultier et al. (1987) Nucleic Acids Res. 15:6625-6641). The antisense nucleic acid can also comprise a 2′-o-methylribonucleotide (Inoue et al. (1987) Nucleic Acids Res. 15:6131-6148) or a chimeric RNA-DNA analogue (Inoue et al. (1987) FEBS Lett. 215:327-330).

The invention also encompasses ribozymes, which are catalytic RNA molecules with ribonuclease activity that are capable of cleaving a single-stranded nucleic acid, such as an mRNA, to which they have a complementary region. Ribozymes (e.g., hammerhead ribozymes (described in Haselhoff and Gerlach (1988) Nature 334:585-591)) can be used to catalytically cleave carbohydrate utilization-related mRNA transcripts to thereby inhibit translation of carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter mRNA. A ribozyme having specificity for an carbohydrate utilization-related-encoding or multidrug transporter-encoding nucleic acid can be designed based upon the nucleotide sequence of an carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter cDNA disclosed herein (e.g., odd numbered SEQ ID NOS:1-320). See, e.g., Cech et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,071; and Cech et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,742. Alternatively, carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter mRNA can be used to select a catalytic RNA having a specific ribonuclease activity from a pool of RNA molecules. See, e.g., Bartel and Szostak (1993) Science 261:1411-1418.

The invention also encompasses nucleic acids that form triple helical structures. For example, carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter gene expression can be inhibited by targeting nucleotide sequences complementary to the regulatory region of the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein (e.g., the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter promoter and/or enhancers) to form triple helical structures that prevent transcription of the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter gene in target cells. See generally, Helene (1991) Anticancer Drug Des. 6(6):569; Helene (1992) Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 660:27; and Maher (1992) Bioassays 14(12):807.

In some embodiments, the nucleic acids of the invention can be modified at the base moiety, sugar moiety, or phosphate backbone to improve, e.g., the stability, hybridization, or solubility of the molecule. For example, the deoxyribose phosphate backbone of the nucleic acids can be modified to generate peptide nucleic acids (see Hyrup et al. (1996) Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry 4:5). As used herein, the terms “peptide nucleic acids” or “PNAs” refer to nucleic acid mimics, e.g., DNA mimics, in which the deoxyribose phosphate backbone is replaced by a pseudopeptide backbone and only the four natural nucleobases are retained. The neutral backbone of PNAs has been shown to allow for specific hybridization to DNA and RNA under conditions of low ionic strength. The synthesis of PNA oligomers can be performed using standard solid-phase peptide synthesis protocols as described, for example, in Hyrup et al. (1996) supra; Perry-O'Keefe et al. (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:14670.

PNAs can be used as antisense or antigene agents for sequence-specific modulation of gene expression by, e.g., inducing transcription or translation arrest or inhibiting replication. PNAs of the invention can also be used, e.g., in the analysis of single base pair mutations in a gene by, e.g., PNA-directed PCR clamping; as artificial restriction enzymes when used in combination with other enzymes, e.g., S1 nucleases (Hyrup (1996) supra); or as probes or primers for DNA sequence and hybridization (Hyrup (1996) supra; Perry-O'Keefe et al. (1996) supra).

In another embodiment, PNAs of an carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter molecule can be modified, e.g., to enhance their stability, specificity, or cellular uptake, by attaching lipophilic or other helper groups to PNA, by the formation of PNA-DNA chimeras, or by the use of liposomes or other techniques of drug delivery known in the art. The synthesis of PNA-DNA chimeras can be performed as described in Hyrup (1996) supra; Finn et al. (1996) Nucleic Acids Res. 24(17):3357-63; Mag et al. (1989) Nucleic Acids Res. 17:5973; and Peterson et al. (1975) Bioorganic Med. Chem. Lett. 5:1119.

Fusion Proteins

The invention also includes carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter chimeric or fusion proteins. A carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter “chimeric protein” or “fusion protein” comprises a carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter polypeptide operably linked to a non-carbohydrate utilization-related or non-multidrug transporter polypeptide, respectively. A “carbohydrate utilization-related polypeptide” or a “multidrug transporter polypeptide” refers to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence corresponding to a carbohydrate utilization-related protein or a multidrug transporter protein, respectively, whereas a “non-carbohydrate utilization-related polypeptide” or a “non-multidrug transporter polypeptide” refers to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence corresponding to a protein that is not substantially identical to the carbohydrate utilization-related protein or multidrug transporter protein, respectively, and which is derived from the same or a different organism. Within a carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter fusion protein, the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter polypeptide can correspond to all or a portion of a carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein, preferably including at least one biologically active portion of a carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein. Within the fusion protein, the term “operably linked” is meant to indicate that the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter polypeptide and the non-carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter polypeptide are fused in-frame to each other. The non-carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter polypeptide can be fused to the N-terminus or C-terminus of the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter polypeptide.

Expression of the linked coding sequences results in two linked heterologous amino acid sequences that form the fusion protein. The carrier sequence (the non-carbohydrate utilization-related or non-multidrug transporter polypeptide) can encode a carrier polypeptide that potentiates or increases expression of the fusion protein in the bacterial host. The portion of the fusion protein encoded by the carrier sequence, i.e., the carrier polypeptide, may be a protein fragment, an entire functional moiety, or an entire protein sequence. The carrier region or polypeptide may additionally be designed to be used in purifying the fusion protein, either with antibodies or with affinity purification specific for that carrier polypeptide. Likewise, physical properties of the carrier polypeptide can be exploited to allow selective purification of the fusion protein.

Particular carrier polypeptides of interest include superoxide dismutase (SOD), maltose-binding protein (MBP), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), an N-terminal histidine (His) tag, and the like. This list is not meant to be limiting, as any carrier polypeptide that potentiates expression of the carbohydrate utilization-related protein or multidrug resistance protein as a fusion protein can be used in the methods of the invention.

In one embodiment, the fusion protein is a GST-carbohydrate utilization-related fusion protein in which the carbohydrate utilization-related sequences are fused to the C-terminus of the GST sequences. In another embodiment, the fusion protein is a carbohydrate utilization-related-immunoglobulin fusion protein in which all or part of a carbohydrate utilization-related protein is fused to sequences derived from a member of the immunoglobulin protein family. In other embodiments, the fusion protein comprises a multidrug transporter protein of the present invention. The carbohydrate utilization-related- or multidrug transporter-immunoglobulin fusion proteins of the invention can be used as immunogens to produce anti-carbohydrate utilization-related or anti-multidrug transporter-related antibodies in a subject, to purify carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter-related ligands, and in screening assays to identify molecules that inhibit the interaction of a carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein with a carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter ligand.

One of skill in the art will recognize that the particular carrier polypeptide is chosen with the purification scheme in mind. For example, His tags, GST, and maltose-binding protein represent carrier polypeptides that have readily available affinity columns to which they can be bound and eluted. Thus, where the carrier polypeptide is an N-terminal His tag such as hexahistidine (His₆ tag), the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter fusion protein can be purified using a matrix comprising a metal-chelating resin, for example, nickel nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA), nickel iminodiacetic acid (Ni-IDA), and cobalt-containing resin (Co-resin). See, for example, Steinert et al. (1997) QIAGEN News 4:11-15, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Where the carrier polypeptide is GST, the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter fusion protein can be purified using a matrix comprising glutathione-agarose beads (Sigma or Pharmacia Biotech); where the carrier polypeptide is a maltose-binding protein (MBP), the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter fusion protein can be purified using a matrix comprising an agarose resin derivatized with amylose.

Preferably, a chimeric or fusion protein of the invention is produced by standard recombinant DNA techniques. For example, DNA fragments coding for the different polypeptide sequences may be ligated together in-frame, or the fusion gene can be synthesized, such as with automated DNA synthesizers. Alternatively, PCR amplification of gene fragments can be carried out using anchor primers that give rise to complementary overhangs between two consecutive gene fragments, which can subsequently be annealed and re-amplified to generate a chimeric gene sequence (see, e.g., Ausubel et al., eds. (1995) Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (Greene Publishing and Wiley-Interscience, New York). Moreover, a carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter-encoding nucleic acid can be cloned into a commercially available expression vector such that it is linked in-frame to an existing fusion moiety.

The fusion protein expression vector is typically designed for ease of removing the carrier polypeptide to allow the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein to retain the native biological activity associated with it. Methods for cleavage of fusion proteins are known in the art. See, for example, Ausubel et al., eds. (1998) Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). Chemical cleavage of the fusion protein can be accomplished with reagents such as cyanogen bromide, 2-(2-nitrophenylsulphenyl)-3-methyl-3′-bromoindolenine, hydroxylamine, or low pH. Chemical cleavage is often accomplished under denaturing conditions to cleave otherwise insoluble fusion proteins.

Where separation of the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter polypeptide from the carrier polypeptide is desired and a cleavage site at the junction between these fused polypeptides is not naturally occurring, the fusion construct can be designed to contain a specific protease cleavage site to facilitate enzymatic cleavage and removal of the carrier polypeptide. In this manner, a linker sequence comprising a coding sequence for a peptide that has a cleavage site specific for an enzyme of interest can be fused in-frame between the coding sequence for the carrier polypeptide (for example, MBP, GST, SOD, or an N-terminal His tag) and the coding sequence for the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter polypeptide. Suitable enzymes having specificity for cleavage sites include, but are not limited to, factor Xa, thrombin, enterokinase, remin, collagenase, and tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease. Cleavage sites for these enzymes are well known in the art. Thus, for example, where factor Xa is to be used to cleave the carrier polypeptide from the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter polypeptide, the fusion construct can be designed to comprise a linker sequence encoding a factor Xa-sensitive cleavage site, for example, the sequence IEGR (see, for example, Nagai and Thøgersen (1984) Nature 309:810-812, Nagai and Thøgersen (1987) Meth. Enzymol. 153:461-481, and Pryor and Leiting (1997) Protein Expr. Purif. 10(3):309-319, herein incorporated by reference). Where thrombin is to be used to cleave the carrier polypeptide from the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter polypeptide, the fusion construct can be designed to comprise a linker sequence encoding a thrombin-sensitive cleavage site, for example the sequence LVPRGS or VIAGR (see, for example, Pryor and Leiting (1997) Protein Expr. Purif. 10(3):309-319, and Hong et al. (1997) Chin. Med. Sci. J. 12(3):143-147, respectively, herein incorporated by reference). Cleavage sites for TEV protease are known in the art. See, for example, the cleavage sites described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,532,142, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. See also the discussion in Ausubel et al., eds. (1998) Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.), Chapter 16.

Antibodies

An isolated polypeptide of the present invention can be used as an immunogen to generate antibodies that specifically bind carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter proteins, or stimulate production of antibodies in vivo. The full-length carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein can be used as an immunogen or, alternatively, antigenic peptide fragments of carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter proteins as described herein can be used. The antigenic peptide of an carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein comprises at least 8, preferably 10, 15, 20, or 30 amino acid residues of the amino acid sequences shown in even numbered SEQ ID NOS:1-320 and encompasses an epitope of a carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein such that an antibody raised against the peptide forms a specific immune complex with the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein. Preferred epitopes encompassed by the antigenic peptide are regions of a carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein that are located on the surface of the protein, e.g., hydrophilic regions.

Recombinant Expression Vectors and Cells

The nucleic acids of the present invention may be included in vectors, preferably expression vectors. “Vector” refers to a nucleic acid capable of transporting another nucleic acid to which it has been linked. Expression vectors include one or more regulatory sequences and direct the expression of genes to which they are operably linked. By “operably linked” is meant that the nucleotide sequence of interest is linked to the regulatory sequence(s) such that expression of the nucleotide sequence is allowed (e.g., in an in vitro transcription/translation system or in a cell when the vector is introduced into the cell). The term “regulatory sequence” is meant to include controllable transcriptional promoters, operators, enhancers, transcriptional terminators, and other expression control elements such as translational control sequences (e.g., Shine-Dalgarno consensus sequence, initiation and termination codons). These regulatory sequences will differ, for example, depending on the cell being used.

The vectors can be autonomously replicated in a cell (episomal vectors), or may be integrated into the genome of a cell, and replicated along with the host genome (non-episomal mammalian vectors). Integrating vectors typically contain at least one sequence homologous to the bacterial chromosome that allows for recombination to occur between homologous DNA in the vector and the bacterial chromosome. Integrating vectors may also comprise bacteriophage or transposon sequences. Episomal vectors, or plasmids are circular double-stranded DNA loops into which additional DNA segments can be ligated. Plasmids capable of stable maintenance in a host are generally the preferred form of expression vectors when using recombinant DNA techniques.

The expression constructs or vectors encompassed in the present invention comprise a nucleic acid construct of the invention in a form suitable for expression of the nucleic acid in a cell. Expression in prokaryotic cells and plant cells is encompassed in the present invention. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the design of the expression vector can depend on such factors as the choice of the cell to be transformed, the level of expression of protein desired, etc. The expression vectors of the invention can be introduced into cells to thereby produce proteins or peptides, including fusion proteins or peptides, encoded by nucleic acids as described herein (e.g., carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter proteins, mutant forms of carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter proteins, fusion proteins, etc.).

Bacterial Expression Vectors

Regulatory sequences include those that direct constitutive expression of a nucleotide sequence as well as those that direct inducible expression of the nucleotide sequence only under certain environmental conditions. A bacterial promoter is any DNA sequence capable of binding bacterial RNA polymerase and initiating the downstream (3′) transcription of a coding sequence (e.g., structural gene) into mRNA. A promoter will have a transcription initiation region, which is usually placed proximal to the 5′ end of the coding sequence. This transcription initiation region typically includes an RNA polymerase binding site and a transcription initiation site. A bacterial promoter may also have a second domain called an operator, which may overlap an adjacent RNA polymerase binding site at which RNA synthesis begins. The operator permits negative regulated (inducible) transcription, as a gene repressor protein may bind the operator and thereby inhibit transcription of a specific gene. Constitutive expression may occur in the absence of negative regulatory elements, such as the operator. In addition, positive regulation may be achieved by a gene activator protein binding sequence, which, if present is usually proximal (5′) to the RNA polymerase binding sequence.

An example of a gene activator protein is the catabolite activator protein (CAP), which helps initiate transcription of the lac operon in Escherichia coli (Raibaud et al. (1984) Annu. Rev. Genet. 18:173). Regulated expression may therefore be either positive or negative, thereby either enhancing or reducing transcription. Other examples of positive and negative regulatory elements are well known in the art. Various promoters that can be included in the protein expression system include, but are not limited to, a T7/LacO hybrid promoter, a trp promoter, a T7 promoter, a lac promoter, and a bacteriophage lambda promoter. Any suitable promoter can be used to carry out the present invention, including the native promoter or a heterologous promoter. Heterologous promoters may be constitutively active or inducible. A non-limiting example of a heterologous promoter is given in U.S. Pat. No. 6,242,194.

Sequences encoding metabolic pathway enzymes provide particularly useful promoter sequences. Examples include promoter sequences derived from sugar metabolizing enzymes, such as galactose, lactose (lac) (Chang et al. (1987) Nature 198:1056), and maltose. Additional examples include promoter sequences derived from biosynthetic enzymes such as tryptophan (trp) (Goeddel et al. (1980) Nucleic Acids Res. 8:4057; Yelverton et al. (1981) Nucleic Acids Res. 9:731; U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,921; EPO Publication Nos. 36,776 and 121,775). The beta-lactamase (bla) promoter system (Weissmann, (1981) “The Cloning of Interferon and Other Mistakes,” in Interferon 3 (ed. I. Gresser); bacteriophage lambda PL (Shimatake et al. (1981) Nature 292:128); the arabinose-inducible araB promoter (U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,530); and T5 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,406) promoter systems also provide useful promoter sequences. See also Balbas (2001) Mol. Biotech. 19:251-267, where E. coli expression systems are discussed.

In addition, synthetic promoters that do not occur in nature also function as bacterial promoters. For example, transcription activation sequences of one bacterial or bacteriophage promoter may be joined with the operon sequences of another bacterial or bacteriophage promoter, creating a synthetic hybrid promoter (U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,433). For example, the tac (Amann et al. (1983) Gene 25:167; de Boer et al. (1983) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 80:21) and trc (Brosius et al. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260:3539-3541) promoters are hybrid trp-lac promoters comprised of both trp promoter and lac operon sequences that are regulated by the lac repressor. The tac promoter has the additional feature of being an inducible regulatory sequence. Thus, for example, expression of a coding sequence operably linked to the tac promoter can be induced in a cell culture by adding isopropyl-1-thio-β-D-galactoside (IPTG). Furthermore, a bacterial promoter can include naturally occurring promoters of non-bacterial origin that have the ability to bind bacterial RNA polymerase and initiate transcription. A naturally occurring promoter of non-bacterial origin can also be coupled with a compatible RNA polymerase to produce high levels of expression of some genes in prokaryotes. The bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase/promoter system is an example of a coupled promoter system (Studier et al. (1986) J. Mol. Biol. 189:113; Tabor et al. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 82:1074). In addition, a hybrid promoter can also be comprised of a bacteriophage promoter and an E. coli operator region (EPO Publication No. 267,851).

The vector may additionally contain a gene encoding the repressor (or inducer) for that promoter. For example, an inducible vector of the present invention may regulate transcription from the Lac operator (LacO) by expressing the gene encoding the LacI repressor protein. Other examples include the use of the lexA gene to regulate expression of pRecA, and the use of trpO to regulate ptrp. Alleles of such genes that increase the extent of repression (e.g., lacIq) or that modify the manner of induction (e.g., lambda CI857, rendering lambda pL thermo-inducible, or lambda CI+, rendering lambda pL chemo-inducible) may be employed.

In addition to a functioning promoter sequence, an efficient ribosome-binding site is also useful for the expression of the fusion construct. In prokaryotes, the ribosome binding site is called the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence and includes an initiation codon (ATG) and a sequence 3-9 nucleotides in length located 3-11 nucleotides upstream of the initiation codon (Shine et al. (1975) Nature 254:34). The SD sequence is thought to promote binding of mRNA to the ribosome by the pairing of bases between the SD sequence and the 3′ end of bacterial 16S rRNA (Steitz et al. (1979) “Genetic Signals and Nucleotide Sequences in Messenger RNA,” in Biological Regulation and Development: Gene Expression (ed. R. F. Goldberger, Plenum Press, NY).

Carbohydrate utilization-related proteins can also be secreted from the cell by creating chimeric DNA molecules that encode a protein comprising a signal peptide sequence fragment that provides for secretion of the carbohydrate utilization-related and multidrug transporter polypeptides in bacteria (U.S. Pat. No. 4,336,336). The signal sequence fragment typically encodes a signal peptide comprised of hydrophobic amino acids that direct the secretion of the protein from the cell. The protein is either secreted into the growth media (Gram-positive bacteria) or into the periplasmic space, located between the inner and outer membrane of the cell (Gram-negative bacteria). Preferably there are processing sites, which can be cleaved either in vivo or in vitro, encoded between the signal peptide fragment and the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter protein.

DNA encoding suitable signal sequences can be derived from genes for secreted bacterial proteins, such as the E. coli outer membrane protein gene (ompA) (Masui et al. (1983) FEBS Lett. 151(1):159-164; Ghrayeb et al. (1984) EMBO J. 3:2437-2442) and the E. coli alkaline phosphatase signal sequence (phoA) (Oka et al. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 82:7212). Other prokaryotic signals include, for example, the signal sequence from penicillinase, Ipp, or heat stable enterotoxin II leaders.

Typically, transcription termination sequences recognized by bacteria are regulatory regions located 3′ to the translation stop codon and thus, together with the promoter, flank the coding sequence. These sequences direct the transcription of an mRNA that can be translated into the polypeptide encoded by the DNA. Transcription termination sequences frequently include DNA sequences (of about 50 nucleotides) that are capable of forming stem loop structures that aid in terminating transcription. Examples include transcription termination sequences derived from genes with strong promoters, such as the trp gene in E. coli as well as other biosynthetic genes.

The expression vectors will have a plurality of restriction sites for insertion of the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter sequence so that it is under transcriptional regulation of the regulatory regions. Selectable marker genes that ensure maintenance of the vector in the cell can also be included in the expression vector. Preferred selectable markers include those that confer resistance to drugs such as ampicillin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, kanamycin (neomycin), and tetracycline (Davies et al. (1978) Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 32:469). Selectable markers may also allow a cell to grow on minimal medium, or in the presence of toxic metabolite and may include biosynthetic genes, such as those in the histidine, tryptophan, and leucine biosynthetic pathways.

The regulatory regions may be native (homologous), or may be foreign (heterologous) to the cell and/or the nucleotide sequence of the invention. The regulatory regions may also be natural or synthetic. Where the region is “foreign” or “heterologous” to the cell, it is meant that the region is not found in the native cell into which the region is introduced. Where the region is “foreign” or “heterologous” to the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter nucleotide sequence of the invention, it is meant that the region is not the native or naturally occurring region for the operably linked carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter nucleotide sequence of the invention. For example, the region may be derived from phage. While it may be preferable to express the sequences using heterologous regulatory regions, native regions may be used. Such constructs would be expected in some cases to alter expression levels of carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter proteins in the cell. Thus, the phenotype of the cell could be altered.

In preparing the expression cassette, the various DNA fragments may be manipulated, so as to provide for the DNA sequences in the proper orientation and, as appropriate, in the proper reading frame. Toward this end, adapters or linkers may be employed to join the DNA fragments or other manipulations may be involved to provide for convenient restriction sites, removal of superfluous DNA, removal of restriction sites, or the like. For this purpose, in vitro mutagenesis, primer repair, restriction, annealing, resubstitutions, e.g., transitions and transversions, may be involved.

The invention further provides a recombinant expression vector comprising a DNA molecule of the invention cloned into the expression vector in an antisense orientation. That is, the DNA molecule is operably linked to a regulatory sequence in a manner that allows for expression (by transcription of the DNA molecule) of an RNA molecule that is antisense to carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter mRNA. Regulatory sequences operably linked to a nucleic acid cloned in the antisense orientation can be chosen to direct the continuous or inducible expression of the antisense RNA molecule. The antisense expression vector can be in the form of a recombinant plasmid or phagemid in which antisense nucleic acids are produced under the control of a high efficiency regulatory region, the activity of which can be determined by the cell type into which the vector is introduced. For a discussion of the regulation of gene expression using antisense genes see Weintraub et al. (1986) Reviews—Trends in Genetics, Vol. 1(1).

Alternatively, some of the above-described components can be put together in transformation vectors. Transformation vectors are typically comprised of a selectable market that is either maintained in a replicon or developed into an integrating vector, as described above.

Plant Expression Vectors

For expression in plant cells, the expression cassettes will comprise a transcriptional initiation region operably linked to a nucleotide sequence of the present invention. Various restriction sites may be included in these expression vectors to enable insertion of the nucleotide sequence under the transcriptional regulation of the regulatory regions. Additionally, the expression cassette may contain selectable marker genes, including those genes that provide herbicide or antibiotic resistance, such as tetracycline resistance, hygromycin resistance, ampicillin resistance, or glyphosate resistance.

The expression cassette will include in the 5′-to-3′ direction of transcription, a transcriptional and translational initiation region, a nucleotide sequence of the invention, and a transcriptional and translational termination region (i.e., termination region) functional in plants. The termination region may be native with the transcriptional initiation region comprising the promoter nucleotide sequence, may be native with the nucleotide sequence of the invention, or may be derived from another source. Convenient termination regions are known in the art and include, but are not limited to, a termination region from the Ti-plasmid of A. tumefaciens, such as the octopine synthase and nopaline synthase termination regions. See also, Guerineau et al. (1991) Mol. Gen. Genet. 262:141-144; Proudfoot (1991) Cell 64:671-674; Sanfacon et al. (1991) Genes Dev. 5:141-149; Mogen et al. (1990) Plant Cell 2:1261-1272; Munroe et al. (1990) Gene 91:151-158; Ballas et al. 1989) Nucleic Acids Res. 17:7891-7903; and Joshi et al. (1987) Nucleic Acid Res. 15:9627-9639.

The expression cassette comprising a nucleotide sequence of the present invention may also contain at least one additional nucleotide sequence for a gene to be cotransformed into the organism. Alternatively, the additional sequence(s) may be provided on another expression cassette.

The expression cassettes may additionally contain 5′ non-translated leader sequences or 5′ non-coding sequences. As used herein, “5′ leader sequence,” “translation leader sequence,” or “5′ non-coding sequence” refer to that DNA sequence portion of a gene between the promoter and coding sequence that is transcribed into RNA and is present in the fully processed mRNA upstream (5′) of the translation start codon. A 5′ non-translated leader sequence is usually characterized as that portion of the mRNA molecule that most typically extends from the 5′ CAP site to the AUG protein translation initiation codon. The translation leader sequence may affect processing of the primary transcript to mRNA, mRNA stability or translation efficiency (Turner et al. (1995) Molecular Biotechnology 3:225). Thus, translation leader sequences play an important role in the regulation of gene expression. Translation leaders are known in the art and include but are not limited to: picornavirus leaders, for example, EMCV leader (Encephalomyocarditis 5′ noncoding region) (Elroy-Stein et al. (1989) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 86:6126-6130); potyvirus leaders, for example, TEV leader (Tobacco Etch Virus) (Allison et al. (1986) Virology 154:9-20); MDMV leader (Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus); human immunoglobulin heavy-chain binding protein (BiP) (Macejak et al. (1991) Nature 353:90-94); untranslated leader from the coat protein mRNA of alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV RNA 4) (Jobling et al. (1987) Nature 325:622-625); tobacco mosaic virus leader (TMV) (Gallie et al. (1989) Molecular Biology of RNA, pages 237-256); and maize chlorotic mottle virus leader (MCMV) (Lommel et al. (1991) Virology 81:382-385).

Other methods known to enhance translation and/or mRNA stability can also be utilized, for example, introns, such as the maize ubiquitin intron (Christensen and Quail (1996) Transgenic Res. 5:213-218 and Christensen et al. (1992) Plant Molecular Biology 18:675-689) or the maize AdhI intron (Kyozuka et al. (1991) Mol. Gen. Genet. 228:40-48 and Kyozuka et al. (1990) Maydica 35:353-357), and the like. Various intron sequences have been shown to enhance expression, particularly in monocotyledonous cells. The introns of the maize AdhI gene have been found to significantly enhance the expression of the wild-type gene under its cognate promoter when introduced into maize cells. Intron 1 was found to be particularly effective and enhanced expression in fusion constructs with the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene (Callis et al. (1987) Genes Develop. 1:1183-1200). In the same experimental system, the intron from the maize bronze1 gene had a similar effect in enhancing expression. The AdhI intron has also been shown to enhance CAT expression 12-fold (Mascarenhas et al. (1990) Plant Mol. Biol. 6:913-920). Intron sequences have routinely been incorporated into plant transformation vectors, typically within the non-translated leader.

The expression cassette comprising a promoter sequence of the present invention may additionally contain a 3′ non-coding sequence. A “3′ non-coding sequence” or “3′ non-translated region” refers to a nucleotide sequence located 3′ (downstream) to a coding sequence and includes polyadenylation signal sequences and other sequences encoding regulatory signals capable of affecting the addition of polyadenylic acid tracts to the 3′ end of the mRNA precursor. A 3′ non-translated region comprises a region of the mRNA generally beginning with the translation termination codon and extending at least beyond the polyadenylation site. Non-translated sequences located in the 3′ end of a gene have been found to influence gene expression levels. Ingelbrecht et al. (see, Plant Cell, 1:671-680, 1989) evaluated the importance of these elements and found large differences in expression in stable plants depending on the source of the 3′ non-translated region. Using 3′ non-translated regions associated with octopine synthase, 2S seed protein from Arabidopsis, small subunit of rbcS from Arabidopsis, extension from carrot, and chalcone synthase from Antirrhinium, a 60-fold difference was observed between the best-expressing construct (which contained the rbcS 3′ non-translated region) and the lowest-expressing construct (which contained the chalcone synthase 3′ region).

Transcription levels may also be increased by the utilization of enhancers in combination with the promoter regions of the invention. Enhancers are nucleotide sequences that act to increase the expression of a promoter region. Enhancers are known in the art and include the SV40 enhancer region, the 35S enhancer element, and the like.

In preparing the expression cassette, the various DNA fragments may be manipulated, so as to provide for the DNA sequences in the proper orientation and, as appropriate, in the proper reading frame. Adapters or linkers may be employed to join the DNA fragments or other manipulations may be involved to provide for convenient restriction sites. Restriction sites may be added or removed, superfluous DNA may be removed, or other modifications may be made to the sequences of the invention. For this purpose, in vitro mutagenesis, primer repair, restriction, annealing, resubstitutions, for example, transitions and transversions, may be involved.

In addition to selectable markers that provide resistance to antibiotics or herbicides, as described above, other genes that could serve utility in the recovery of transgenic events but might not be required in the final product would include, but are not limited to, GUS (b-glucoronidase; Jefferson (1987) Plant Mol. Biol. Rep. 5:387), GFP (green florescence protein; Chalfie et al. (1994) Science 263:802), luciferase (Riggs et al. (1987) Nucleic Acids Res. 15(19):8115 and Luehrsen et al. (1992) Methods Enzymol. 216:397-414), and the maize genes encoding for anthocyanin production (Ludwig et al. (1990) Science 247:449).

The nucleic acids of the present invention are useful in methods directed to expressing a nucleotide sequence in a plant. This may be accomplished by transforming a plant cell of interest with an expression cassette comprising a promoter operably linked to a nucleotide sequence identified herein, and regenerating a stably transformed plant from said plant cell. The expression cassette comprising the promoter sequence operably linked to a nucleotide sequence of the present invention can be used to transform any plant. In this manner, genetically modified, i.e. transgenic or transformed, plants, plant cells, plant tissue, seed, root, and the like can be obtained.

Microbial or Bacterial Cells

The production of bacteria containing heterologous phage resistance genes, the preparation of starter cultures of such bacteria, and methods of fermenting substrates, particularly food substrates such as milk, may be carried out in accordance with known techniques.

By “introducing” as it pertains to nucleic acids is meant introduction into prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells via conventional transformation or transfection techniques, or by phage-mediated infection. As used herein, the terms “transformation,” “transduction,” “conjugation,” and “protoplast fusion” are meant to refer to a variety of art-recognized techniques for introducing foreign nucleic acid (e.g., DNA) into a cell, including calcium phosphate or calcium chloride co-precipitation, DEAE-dextran-mediated transfection, lipofection, or electroporation. Suitable methods for transforming or transfecting cells can be found in Sambrook et al. (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (2d ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Plainview, N.Y.) and other laboratory manuals. By “introducing” as it pertains to polypeptides or microorganisms of the invention, is meant introduction into a host by ingestion, topical application, nasal, suppository, urogenital, or oral application of the polypeptide or microorganism.

Bacterial cells used to produce the carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter polypeptides of this invention are cultured in suitable media, as described generally in Sambrook et al. (1989) Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual (2d ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Plainview, N.Y.

Transgenic Plants and Plant Cells

As used herein, the terms “transformed plant” and “transgenic plant” refer to a plant that comprises within its genome a heterologous polynucleotide. Generally, the heterologous polynucleotide is stably integrated within the genome of a transgenic or transformed plant such that the polynucleotide is passed on to successive generations. The heterologous polynucleotide may be integrated into the genome alone or as part of a recombinant expression cassette. It is to be understood that as used herein the term “transgenic” includes any cell, cell line, callus, tissue, plant part, or plant the genotype of which has been altered by the presence of heterologous nucleic acid including those transgenics initially so altered as well as those created by sexual crosses or asexual propagation from the initial transgenic. The term “transgenic” as used herein does not encompass the alteration of the genome (chromosomal or extra-chromosomal) by conventional plant breeding methods or by naturally occurring events such as random cross-fertilization, non-recombinant viral infection, non-recombinant bacterial transformation, non-recombinant transposition, or spontaneous mutation.

A transgenic “event” is produced by transformation of plant cells with a heterologous DNA construct, including a nucleic acid expression cassette that comprises a transgene of interest, the regeneration of a population of plants resulting from the insertion of the transgene into the genome of the plant, and selection of a particular plant characterized by insertion into a particular genome location. An event is characterized phenotypically by the expression of the transgene. At the genetic level, an event is part of the genetic makeup of a plant. The term “event” also refers to progeny produced by a sexual outcross between the transformant and another variety that includes the heterologous DNA.

As used herein, the term “plant” includes reference to whole plants, plant organs (e.g., leaves, stems, roots, etc.), seeds, plant cells, and progeny of same. Parts of transgenic plants within the scope of the invention are to be understood to comprise, for example, plant cells, protoplasts, tissues, callus, embryos as well as flowers, stems, fruits, ovules, leaves, or roots originating in transgenic plants or their progeny previously transformed with a DNA molecule of the invention, and therefore consisting at least in part of transgenic cells.

As used herein, the term “plant cell” includes, without limitation, seeds suspension cultures, embryos, meristematic regions, callus tissue, leaves, roots, shoots, gametophytes, sporophytes, pollen, and microspores. The class of plants that can be used in the methods of the invention is generally as broad as the class of higher plants amenable to transformation techniques, including both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants.

The present invention may be used for transformation of any plant species, including, but not limited to, monocots and dicots. Examples of plants of interest include, but are not limited to, corn (Zea mays), Brassica sp. (e.g., B. napus, B. rapa, B. juncea), particularly those Brassica species useful as sources of seed oil, alfalfa (Medicago sativa), rice (Oryza sativa), rye (Secale cereale), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor, Sorghum vulgare), millet (e.g., pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), proso millet (Panicum miliaceum), foxtail millet (Setaria italica), finger millet (Eleusine coracana)), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), wheat (Triticum aestivum), soybean (Glycine max), tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), potato (Solanum tuberosum), peanuts (Arachis hypogaea), cotton (Gossypium barbadense, Gossypium hirsutum), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatus), cassaya (Manihot esculenta), coffee (Coffea spp.), coconut (Cocos nucifera), pineapple (Ananas comosus), citrus trees (Citrus spp.), cocoa (Theobroma cacao), tea (Camellia sinensis), banana (Musa spp.), avocado (Persea americana), fig (Ficus casica), guava (Psidium guajava), mango (Mangifera indica), olive (Olea europaea), papaya (Carica papaya), cashew (Anacardium occidentale), macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia), almond (Prunus amygdalus), sugar beets (Beta vulgaris), sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), oats, barley, vegetables, ornamentals, and conifers.

Vegetables include tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum), lettuce (e.g., Lactuca sativa), green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), lima beans (Phaseolus limensis), peas (Lathyrus spp.), and members of the genus Cucumis such as cucumber (C. sativus), cantaloupe (C. cantalupensis), and musk melon (C. melo). Ornamentals include azalea (Rhododendron spp.), hydrangea (Macrophylla hydrangea), hibiscus (Hibiscus rosasanensis), roses (Rosa spp.), tulips (Tulipa spp.), daffodils (Narcissus spp.), petunias (Petunia hybrida), carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus), poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), and chrysanthemum. Conifers that may be employed in practicing the present invention include, for example, pines such as loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), slash pine (Pinus elliotii), ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), and Monterey pine (Pinus radiata); Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii); Western hemlock (Tsuga canadensis); Sitka spruce (Picea glauca); redwood (Sequoia sempervirens); true firs such as silver fir (Abies amabilis) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea); and cedars such as Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) and Alaska yellow-cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis).

The methods of the invention do not depend on a particular method for introducing a nucleotide construct to a plant, only that the nucleotide construct gains access to the interior of at least one cell of the plant. Methods for introducing nucleotide constructs into plants are known in the art including, but not limited to, stable transformation methods, transient transformation methods, and virus-mediated methods.

By “transient transformation” it is meant that a nucleotide construct introduced into a plant does not integrate into the genome of the plant. By “stable transformation” it is meant that the nucleotide construct introduced into a plant integrates into the genome of the plant and is capable of being inherited by progeny thereof. “Primary transformant” and “T0 generation” transgenic plants are of the same genetic generation as the tissue that was initially transformed (i.e., not having gone through meiosis and fertilization since transformation). “Secondary transformants” and “T1, T2, T3, and subsequent generations” refer to transgenic plants derived from primary transformants through one or more meiotic and fertilization cycles. They may be derived by self-fertilization of primary or secondary transformants or crosses of primary or secondary transformants with other transformed or untransformed plants.

Transformation protocols as well as protocols for introducing nucleotide sequences into plants may vary depending on the type of plant or plant cell, i.e., monocot or dicot, targeted for transformation. The nucleotide constructs of the invention may be introduced into plants by any method known in the art, including, but not limited to, contacting the plants with a virus or viral nucleic acids (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,889,191, 5,889,190, 5,866,785, 5,589,367, and 5,316,931; herein incorporated by reference), microinjection (Crossway et al. (1986) Biotechniques 4:320-334), electroporation (Riggs et al. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:5602-5606, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,981,840 and 5,563,055), direct gene transfer (Paszkowski et al. (1984) EMBO J. 3:2717-2722), and ballistic particle acceleration (see, for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,945,050; 5,879,918; 5,886,244; and 5,932,782); all of which are herein incorporated by reference.

The transformed cells may be grown into plants with methods known in the art. See, for example, McCormick et al. (1986) Plant Cell Reports 5:81-84. These plants may then be grown, and either pollinated with the same transformed strain or different strains, and the resulting hybrid having expression of the desired phenotypic characteristic identified. Two or more generations may be grown to ensure that expression of the desired phenotypic characteristic is stably maintained and inherited and then seeds may be harvested to ensure expression of the desired phenotypic characteristic has been achieved. Thus as used herein, “transformed seeds” refers to seeds that contain the nucleotide construct stably integrated into the plant genome.

Methods of Use

Methods are provided for modifying expression of carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter genes or proteins of an organism. In one embodiment, properties of microorganisms used in fermentation are modified to provide strains able to utilize alternative carbohydrates for energy or carbon sources. These modifications may result in a new ability to synthesize, transport, accumulate, or degrade a carbohydrate. Alternatively, these modifications may result in the ability to survive contact with antimicrobial polypeptides, including antibiotics and toxins. These new abilities may also allow the microorganisms to better survive stressful conditions, such as the digestive tract or those found during food processing and storage, which will increase the utility of these microorganisms in fermenting various foods, as well as allowing them to provide longer-lasting probiotic activity after ingestion. These new abilities may also allow the microorganisms to generate different flavors or textures in a product upon fermentation. In addition, the new abilities may enable a bacterium to produce a modified carbohydrate, exopolysaccharide, or cell surface polysaccharide. In another embodiment, the properties of plants are modified to provide similar abilities. These abilities are provided by the nucleotide and amino acid sequences disclosed in the present invention.

In general, the methods comprise introducing or overexpressing one or more proteins involved in carbohydrate utilization or multidrug resistance. By “introducing” is meant that the protein of interest is expressed in a modified cell when it was not expressed in an unmodified cell. By “overexpressing” is meant that the protein of interest is expressed in an increased amount in the modified organism compared to its production in the unmodified wild-type organism. Homofermentative lactic acid bacteria, in particular, have a relatively simple metabolism, with almost no overlap between energy metabolism and biosynthesis metabolism, making them ideal targets for metabolic engineering (Hugenholz and Kleerebezem (1999) Current Opin. Biotech. 10:492-497). The expression of bacterial genes in plants is well known in the art. See, for example, Shewmaker et al. (1994) Plant Physiol. 104:1159-1166; Shen et al. (1997) Plant Physiol. 113:1177-1183; Blaszczyk et al. (1999) Plant J. 20:237-243.

Expression of one or more carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter proteins may allow for an organism to have a modified ability to transport a carbohydrate or an antimicrobial polypeptide such as a bacteriocin into or out of a cell. Transport-related carbohydrate utilization proteins or multidrug transporter proteins comprise ABC transporter system components including substrate-binding proteins (for example HisJ and MalE), membrane-associated components such as permeases (for example LacF and LacG), and cytoplasmic proteins such as ATP-binding proteins (for example msmK). Transport-related carbohydrate utilization proteins or multidrug transporter proteins also comprise secondary transport system proteins such as those in the major facilitator superfamily (MFS) and the glycoside/pentoside/hexuronide family. Group translocation system proteins are also included, including enzyme I, enzyme II, and HPr proteins.

Methods are known in the art for cloning and expressing carbohydrate utilization-related proteins in microorganisms and plants, and for assessing function of those proteins (see, for example, de Vos (1996) Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 70:223-242; Yeo et al. (2000) Mol. Cells. 10:263-268; Goddijn et al. (1997) Plant Physiol. 113:181-190). Function for primary and secondary transport system-related proteins may be assessed, for example, by enzyme assays, fermentation assays, and transport assays. Function for group translocation system-related proteins may be assessed, for example, by sugar phosphorylation assays. See, for example, Russell et al. (Russell et al. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267:4631-4637), where genes from a primary transport system (msm) in Streptococcus mutans are identified and expressed in E. coli; Leong-Morgenthaler et al. (Leong-Morgenthaler et al. (1991) J. Bacteriol. 173:1951-1957, where two genes from a secondary transport system (lactose) from Lactobacillus bulgaricus were cloned and expressed in E. coli; Vaughan et al. (Vaughan et al. (1996) Appl. Env. Microbiol. 62:1574-1582), where a secondary transport system (lacS) gene from Leuconostoc lactis was cloned and expressed in E. coli; de Vos et al. (de Vos et al. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265:22554-22560), where two PTS system genes from Lactococcus lactis were identified, cloned and expressed in E. coli and Lactobacillus lactis; Sato et al. (Sato et al. (1989) J. Bacteriol. 171:263-271), where the scrA gene from Streptococcus mutans was cloned into E. coli and found to exhibit sucrose PTS activity; Alpert and Chassy (Alpert and Chassy (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265:22561-22568), where the gene coding for the lactose-specific Enzyme II of Lactobacillus casei was cloned and expressed in E. coli; Boyd et al. (Boyd et al. (1994) Infect. Immun. 62:1156-1165), where the genes that encode HPr and Enzyme I of the PTS transport system of Streptococcus mutans were cloned and expressed in E. coli; Garg et al. (Garg et al. (2002) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99:15898-15903), where the overexpression of E. coli trehalose biosynthetic genes otsA and otsB led to increased tolerance of the transgenic plants to abiotic stress, and enhanced productivity; and Grinius and Goldberg (Grinius and Goldberg (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269:29998-30004), where a multidrug resistance protein was expressed and demonstrated to function as a drug pump.

Expression of one or more carbohydrate utilization-related proteins may allow for an organism to have a modified ability to accumulate a carbohydrate in the cytoplasm of a cell. For example, introducing or overexpressing an enzyme involved in sugar catabolism without expressing a relevant transport protein may lead to an accumulation of that carbohydrate in the cytoplasm. Alternatively, introduction or overexpression of a carbohydrate transport-related protein may lead to enhanced transport of the carbohydrate into the external environment. Methods are known in the art for introducing or expressing carbohydrate-related genes in organisms. Accumulation of a carbohydrate in a cell may be assessed, for example, by chromatographic methods or enzyme assays. See, for example, Chaillou et al. (1998) J. Bacteriol. 180:4011-4014 and Goddijn et al. (1997) supra.

Expression of one or more carbohydrate utilization-related proteins may allow for an organism to have a modified ability to utilize or produce a carbohydrate as an energy source. Methods are known in the art for cloning and expressing carbohydrate utilization-related proteins in organisms, and for assessing function of those proteins (see, for example, de Vos (1996) Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 70:223-242; Hugenholz et al. (2002) Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 82:217-235). For example, the genes for lactose metabolism may be introduced into a bacterium to improve the utilization of lactose, and to produce a product more acceptable to lactose-intolerant people (Hugenholz et al. (2002) supra). Further modifications may be made in these modified bacteria, such as blocking glucose metabolism so that glucose is not degraded, but is released from the cell into the medium, thereby providing natural sweetness. See, for example (Hugenholz et al. (2002) supra). Alternatively, the genes for galactose metabolism as well as the gene for α-phosphoglucomutase may be introduced, to improve the galactose-fermenting capability of the microorganism, thereby aiding in preventing the consumption of high levels of galactose, which could cause health problems (Hugenholz et al. (2002) supra; Hirasuka and Li (1992) J. Stud. Alcohol 62:397-402). One gene associated with galactose metabolism is α-galactosidase, the expression of which may be useful for removing raffinose-type sugars from fermented products, since monogastric animals cannot degrade them (Hugenholz et al. (2002) supra). Expression of the bacterial gene for mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase (mtlD) in tobacco plants successfully resulted in the synthesis and accumulation of mannitol (Tarczynski et al. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:2600-2604).

Function of the various carbohydrate-related proteins may be assessed, for example, by microbial growth assays, transport assays, enzyme assays, or analysis by chromatography methods and NMR. See, for example, Djordjevic et al. (2001) J. Bacteriol. 183:3224-3236; Chaillou et al. (1998) J. Bacteriol. 180:4011-4014; and Tarczynski et al. (1992) supra.

Generally, permeases, membrane-associated enzymes, and regulators such as transcriptional repressors or antiterminators may need to be expressed in the cell for optimal utilization of a carbohydrate. The function of transcriptional antiterminators may be assayed by antitermination activity in a reporter system (see, for example, Alpert and Siebers (1997) J. Bacteriol. 179:1555-1562). The function of repressors such as lacR may be assessed by enzyme activity or growth assays (see, for example, van Rooijen et al. (1993) Protein Eng. 6:201-206; van Rooijen and de Vos (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265:18499-18503).

The sequences of the present invention may also modify the ability of an organism to alter the flavor or texture of a food product. Modification of glucose metabolism to produce alternative sugars is one approach that may lead to altered flavor or textural characteristics. Disruption of the lactate dehydrogenase gene with the concomitant expression of genes from the mannitol or sorbitol operons results in the production of mannitol and sorbitol (Hugenholz et al. (2002) supra). Diacetyl production during fermentation results in a butter aroma, which can be enhanced by either disruption of lactate dehydrogenase or overexpression of NADH oxidase in combination with disruption of α-acetolactate decarboxylase (Hugenholz and Kleerebezem, (1999) supra; Hugenholtz et al. (2000) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66:4112-4114) Alternatively, overproduction of α-acetolactate synthase or acetohydroxy acid synthase with disruption of α-acetolactate decarboxylase has resulted in increased diacetyl production (Swindell et al. (1996) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 62:2641-2643; Platteeuw et al. (1995) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 61:3967-3971). Overexpression of alanine dehydrogenase results in the production of alanine instead of lactic acid, providing a taste-enhancer and sweetener in fermented foods (Hols et al. (1999) Nat. Biotechnol. 17:588-592).

Methods for modifying the ability of an organism to produce a modified carbohydrate are also encompassed, comprising introducing at least one nucleotide sequence of the present invention into an organism. Methods for producing modified carbohydrates are also encompassed, and comprise contacting a carbohydrate to be modified with a polypeptide of the present invention. Methods are known in the art for producing modified carbohydrates. See, for example Kim et al. (2001) Biotechnol. Prog. 17:208-210.

The sequences of the current invention may also modify the ability of an organism to survive in a food system or the gastrointestinal tract of a mammal, or modify an organism's stability and survival during food processing and storage. For example, increased production of trehalose may result in prolonged freshness and taste of a fermented product (see, for example, www.nutracells.com). Trehalose also may aid in the prevention of diseases that result from protein aggregation or pathological conformations of proteins, such as Creutzfeld-Jacob disease. In plants, accumulation of trehalose leads to protection against environmental stresses such as drought, salt, and cold (see, for example, Jang et al. (2003) Plant Physiol. 131:516-524; Penna (2003) Trends Plant Sci. 8:355-357; Garg et al. (2002) Proc. Natl. Acad. Science 99:15898-15903; Yeo et al. (2000) supra). In addition, plants have been transformed with fructosyltransferase genes, which enabled the plant to accumulate fructans to a high level (van der Meer et al. (1994) Plant Cell 6:561-570). In addition to having a role as a carbohydrate reserve, fructans may also provide tolerance to dry and cold conditions (Pontis and del Campillo (1985) “Fructans” in Biochemistry of Storage Carbohydrates in Green Plants, Day and Dixon, eds. (London: Academic Press), pp. 810-816; Pilon-Smits et al. (1995) Plant Physiol. 107:125-130). The bacterial gene mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase has also been expressed in plants, resulting in the production of mannitol, which is thought to confer beneficial traits including osmoregulation and neutralization of hydroxyl radicals (Tarczynski et al. (1992) supra).

The multidrug transporter sequences of the invention may allow an organism to survive contact with an antimicrobial polypeptide or other toxin. This may be due to an increased ability to transport a drug or toxin out of the cell.

Variants of these nucleotide sequences are also encompassed, such as those that retain or modify the ability to transport a carbohydrate or toxin into or out of a cell, and those that retain or modify the ability to accumulate or utilize a carbohydrate. Methods for making and testing variants of carbohydrate utilization-related or multidrug transporter proteins are well known in the art. See, for example, Poolman et al. (Poolman et al. (1996) Mol. Microbiol. 19:911-911), where variants of secondary transport system proteins (mellibiose and lactose) with altered substrate specificities were isolated or constructed and tested. In these mutants, sugar transport is uncoupled from cation symport. See also, for example, Djorovevic et al. (2001) supra, where mutant HPr proteins were constructed with altered regulatory activity; and Adams et al. (Adams et al. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269:5666-5672), where cold-sensitive variants of the β-galactosidase gene from Lactobacillus delbrüeckii subsp. bulgaricus were generated and characterized. These mutated genes had a reduced V_(max) at low temperatures and therefore may be useful in preventing the acidification of fermented products during cold storage (Mainzer et al. (1990) “Pathway engineering of Lactobacillus bulgaricus for improved yoghurt,” in Yoghurt: Nutritional and Health Properties, Chandan, ed., (National Yoghurt Association, Virginia, US), pp. 41-55. See, also, Bettenbrock et al. (Bettenbrock et al. (1999) J. Bacteriol. 181:225-230), where mutants with modified galactose-specified PTS genes were isolated. See also, van Rooijen et al. (1990) supra, where variants of the lacR repressor were isolated that had no effect on activity. See also Kroetz et al., where polymorphism of the human MDR1 gene was analyzed (Kroetz et al. (2003) Pharmacogenetics 13:481-94), and Mitomo et al., where variants of the ABC transporter ABCG2 were analyzed (Mitomo et al. (2003) Biochem. J. 373:767-74).

Any of the above modifications may be combined with other metabolic alterations that have been engineered or suggested in lactic acid bacteria. These include, B-vitamin production, such as folate (B11), riboflavin (B2), or cobalamin (B12), the production of polyols, or low-calorie sugars, that could replace sucrose, lactose, glucose, or fructose as sweeteners, the production of tagatose, another sucrose replacement, the production of various exopolysaccharides, blocking glucose metabolism to provide a natural sweetening effect, reduced production of galactose, production of foods with lower levels of α-galactosides such as stachyose and raffinose, and increased production of trehalose, which has preserving properties for foodstuffs and is potentially involved in disease prevention (Hugenholz et al. (2002) supra; van Roojen et al. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266:7176-7178).

Methods are also provided for eliminating or modifying undesirable carbohydrates from a food or chemical product. The methods comprise contacting the product with a purified polypeptide of the present invention. Methods to assay for the elimination or modification of carbohydrates are well known in the art.

TABLE 1 Carbohydrate Utilization Proteins of the Present Invention ORF # SEQ ID NO: IDENTITY/FUNCTION 452 1, 2 PTS system mannose-specific factor IIAB 877 3, 4 Phosphotransferase system (PTS) lichenan- specific enzyme IIA component 609 5, 6 Beta-glucoside specific transport protein 1479 7, 8 Transcription antiterminator 1574  9, 10 Phospho-beta-glucosidase 1707 11, 12 Beta-glucoside permease IIABC component 725 13, 14 PTS system, beta-glucosides-specific IIABC component 491 15, 16 Phosphotransferase system (PTS) protein, lichenan-specific enzyme IIC component 1369 17, 18 Phosphotransferase system enzyme II 1684 19, 20 Phosphotransferase system IIA component 146 21, 22 PTS system enzyme IIBC component (galactitol/fructose-specific) 227 23, 24 PTS cellobiose-specific component IIC 989 25, 26 PTS cellobiose-specific enzyme IIC 884 27, 28 Cellobiose-specific PTS system IIC component 618 29, 30 PTS system, cellobiose-specific enzyme IIC 606 31, 32 Phosphotransferase system (PTS) arbutin-like enzyme IIBC component 1705 33, 34 Sucrose-specific PTS system IIBC component 1777 35, 36 PTS system protein 500 37, 38 Sucrose operon represser 502 39, 40 ABC transporter substrate-binding protein 503 41, 42 ABC transporter membrane-spanning permease - sugar transporter 504 43, 44 ABC transporter membrane-spanning permease - sugar transport protein 505 45, 46 Sucrose-6-phosphate hydrolase 506 47, 48 Multiple sugar-binding transport ATP-binding protein 507 49, 50 gtfA protein 1481 51, 52 Ribose ABC transporter(ribose-binding protein) 1482 53, 54 Ribose ABC transporter (permease) 1483 55, 56 Ribose ABC transporter ATP binding protein 1484 57, 58 Ribose permease (RbsD) 1485 59, 60 Ribokinase (RbsK) 1864 61, 62 Maltose ABC transporter permease protein 1865 63, 64 Maltose ABC transporter permease protein 1866 65, 66 Maltose ABC transporter substrate binding protein 1867 67, 68 Multiple sugar-binding transport ATP-binding protein 1944 69, 70 Sugar ABC transporter protein 1945 71, 72 Sugar ABC transporter permease protein 1946 73, 74 Sugar ABC transporter permease protein 45 75, 76 Sugar transporter 552 77, 78 Transporter protein 566 79, 80 Transporter protein 567 81, 82 Drug-efflux transporter 753 83, 84 Transporter protein 1446 85, 86 Drug-export protein 1471 87, 88 Efflux protein 1616 89, 90 Transporter protein 1621 91, 92 Efflux transporter protein 1853 93, 94 Drug-efflux transporter protein 1917 95, 96 Polysaccharide transporter 399 97, 98 Sucrose operon regulatory protein 400  99, 100 Sucrose-6-phosphate hydrolase 401 101, 102 Phosphotransferase system enzyme II 1012 103, 104 Beta-glucoside-specific PTS system IIABC component 1013 105, 106 Trehalose operon transcriptional represser 1014 107, 108 Dextran glucosidase 1439 109, 110 ABC transporter ATP-binding protein - multiple sugar Transport 1440 111, 112 Multiple sugar-binding transport system permease protein 1441 113, 114 ABC transporter membrane-spanning permease - Multiple sugars 1442 115, 116 Multiple sugar-binding protein precursor 1443 117, 118 Raffinose operon transcriptional regulatory protein 73 119, 120 Carbohydrate-utilization-related 74 121, 122 ABC transporter bacteriocin 75 123, 124 ABC transporter 1131 125, 126 ABC transporter 1132 127, 128 ABC transporter 1357 129, 130 ABC transporter 1358 131, 132 ABC transporter 1679 133, 134 Permease 1680 135, 136 Transporter 1681 137, 138 Carbohydrate-utilization-related 1793 139, 140 Carbohydrate-utilization-related 1794 141, 142 Carbohydrate-utilization-related 1796 143, 144 plnG 1838 145, 146 ABC transporter 1839 147, 148 Permease 1840 149, 150 Regulator 1913 151, 152 ABC transporter 1914 153, 154 ABC transporter 1915 155, 156 Carbohydrate-utilization-related 1938 157, 158 Carbohydrate-utilization-related 1939 159, 160 ABC transporter 453 161, 162 Mannose-specific phosphotransferase system component 454 163, 164 PTS system mannose-specific factor IIAB 455 165, 166 PTS system mannose-specific, factor IIC 456 167, 168 PTS system mannose-specific factor IID 876 169, 170 PTS system enzyme II protein 879 171, 172 Phosphotransferase system sugar-specific EII component 1575 173, 174 PTS system, beta-glucoside-specific enzyme II, ABC component 1463 175, 176 LacS 639 177, 177 ptsH 640 179, 180 ptsI 431 181, 182 ccpA 676 183, 184 ptsK 1778 185, 186 FruK 1779 187, 188 FruR 1433 189, 190 dihydroxyacetone kinase 1434 191, 192 dihydroxyacetone kinase 1436 193, 194 glycerol uptake facilitator 1437 195, 196 gtfAII 1438 197, 198 melA 1457 199, 200 GalM 1458 201, 202 GalT 1459 203, 204 GalK 1460 205, 206 surface protein 1461 207, 208 conserved hypothetical protein 1462 209, 210 LacZ 1467 211, 212 beta-galactosidase 1468 213, 214 beta-galactosidase 1469 215, 216 GalE 1719 217, 218 UDP-glucose phosphorylase 874 219, 220 beta-galactosidase 910 221, 222 L-LDH 1007 223, 224 pyridoxal kinase 1812 225, 226 alpha-glucosidase 1632 227, 228 aldehyde dehydrogenase 1401 229, 230 NADH peroxidase 1974 231, 232 pyruvate oxidase 1102 233, 234 amino acid permease 1783 235, 236 ABC transporter 1879 237, 238 pyrimidine kinase 680 239, 240 glgB 55 241, 242 D-LDH 185 243, 244 phosphoglycerate mutase 271 245, 246 L-LDH 698 247, 248 GPDH 699 249, 250 phosphoglycerate kinase 752 251, 252 glucose 6-phosphate isomerase 889 253, 254 2-phosphoglycerate dehydratase 956 255, 256 phosphofructokinase 957 257, 258 pyruvate kinase 1599 259, 260 fructose bisphosphate aldolase 1641 261, 262 glycerol 3-phosphate ABC transporter 452 263, 264 Mannose; PTS system mannose-specific factor IIAB 1479 265, 266 beta-glucoside; transcription antiterminator 725 267, 268 beta-glucoside; PTS system, beta-glucosides- specific IIABC component 1369 269, 270 Cellobiose; phosphotransferase system enzyme II 227 271, 272 Cellobiose; PTS cellobiose-specific component II 502 273, 274 sugar transporter; ABC transporter substrate- binding protein 507 275, 276 GtfA 1483 277, 278 rbsA; ribose ABC transporter ATP binding protein 1484 279, 280 ribose permease RbsD 552 281, 282 multidrug transporter 567 283, 284 multidrug transporter 1471 285, 286 multidrug transporter 1853 287, 288 multidrug transporter 1012 289, 290 treB; beta-glucoside; beta-glucoside-specific PTS system IIABC component 1014 291, 292 treC 1440 293, 294 msmG 1442 295, 296 msmE 1132 297, 298 ABC transporter 1358 299, 300 ABC transporter 1838 301, 302 ABC transporter 1840 303, 304 transcriptional regulator (TetR/AcrR family) 1913 305, 306 ABC transporter 1938 307, 308 164 309, 310 multidrug transporter 251 311, 312 multidrug transporter 252 313, 314 multidrug transporter 253 315, 316 multidrug transporter 1062 317, 318 multidrug transporter 597 319, 320 ABC multidrug transporter 1854 321, 322 multidrug transporter

The following examples are offered by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

EXAMPLE 1 Gapped BlastP Results for Amino Acid Sequences

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:2 (144 amino acids) has about 61% identity from amino acids 1-140 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a PTS system mannose-specific factor IIAB (Accession Nos. NP_(—)469488.1; NC_(—)003212), about 60% identity from amino acids 1-140 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to a PTS system mannose-specific factor IIAB (Accession Nos. NP_(—)463629.1; NC_(—)003210), about 63% identity from amino acids 1-139 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is a mannose-specific phosphotransferase system component IIAB (Accession Nos. NP_(—)149230.1; NC_(—)001988), about 62% identity from amino acids 1-139 with a protein from Clostridium perfringens that is a PTS system protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)561737.1; NC_(—)003366), and about 50% identity from amino acids 2-141 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is a mannose-specific phosphotransferase system component IIAB (Accession Nos. NP_(—)269761.1; NC_(—)002737).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:4 (123 amino acids) has about 60% identity from amino acids 20-109 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a phosphotransferase system (PTS) lichenan-specific enzyme IIA component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)471165.1; NC_(—)003212), about 57% identity from amino acids 20-110 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a cellobiose phosphotransferase enzyme IIA component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)472161.1; NC_(—)003212), about 46% identity from amino acids 1-112 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a cellobiose-specific PTS system IIA component (EC 2.7.1.69) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)266570.1; NC_(—)002662), about 44% identity from amino acids 9-112 with a protein from Bacillus halodurans that is a PTS system, cellobiose-specific enzyme IIA component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)241776.1; NC_(—)002570), and about 51% identity from amino acids 16-112 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a PTS enzyme III (Accession Nos. NP_(—)607437.1; NC_(—)003485).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:6 (161 amino acids) has about 53% identity from amino acids 6-143 with a protein from Enterococcus faecium that is a beta-glucoside specific transport protein (BglS) (Accession Nos. gb|AAD28228.1; AF121254), about 48% identity from amino acids 13-159 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a PTS system, IIABC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)345256.1; NC_(—)003028), about 48% identity from amino acids 13-159 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a PTS glucose-specific enzyme IIABC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)358262.1; NC_(—)003098), about 46% identity from amino acids 13-159 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a PTS system, enzyme IIA component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)608025.1; NC_(—)003485), and about 46% identity from amino acids 13-159 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a PTS system, enzyme IIA component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)269950.1; NC_(—)002737).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:8 (291 amino acids) has about 36% identity from amino acids 11-282 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is a transcription antiterminator (licT) (Accession No. sp|P39805|LICT_BACSU), about 36% identity from amino acids 11-282 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is a transcriptional antiterminator (BglG family) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)391787.1; NC_(—)000964), about 37% identity from amino acids 11-282 with a protein from Escherichia coli that is involved in positive regulation of the bgl operon (Accession Nos. NP_(—)418179.1; NC_(—)000913), about 33% identity from amino acids 11-282 with a protein from Erwinia chrysanthemi that is a beta-glucoside operon antiterminator (Accession No. sp|P26211|ARBG_ERWCH), and about 34% identity from amino acids 9-288 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is a transcriptional antiterminator (licT) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)347062.1; NC_(—)003030).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:10 (480 amino acids) has about 59% identity from amino acids 8-473 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to a phospho-beta-glucosidase (Accession Nos. NP_(—)463849.1; NC_(—)003210), about 58% identity from amino acids 8-473 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a phospho-beta-glucosidase (Accession Nos. NP_(—)469689.1; NC_(—)003212), about 57% identity from amino acids 7-473 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is a 6-phospho-beta-glucosidase (NP_(—)347379.1; NC_(—)003030), about 57% identity from amino acids 8-473 with a protein from Clostridium longisporum that is a 6-phospho-beta-glucosidase (Accession No. sp|Q46130|ABGA_CLOLO), and about 55% identity from amino acids 1-473 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is a beta-glucosidase (Accession Nos. NP_(—)391805.1; NC_(—)000964).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:12 (625 amino acids) has about 38% identity from amino acids 1-624 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is a beta-glucoside permease IIABC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)268836.1; NC_(—)002737), about 38% identity from amino acids 1-624 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is a beta-glucoside permease IIABC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)606826.1; NC_(—)003485), about 38% identity from amino acids 1-605 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a phosphotransferase system sugar-specific EII component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)358099.1; NC_(—)003098), about 38% identity from amino acids 1-605 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a PTS system, beta-glucosides-specific IIABC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)345091.1; NC_(—)003028), and about 38% identity from amino acids 1-622 with a protein from Bacillus halodurans that is a PTS system, beta-glucoside-specific enzyme IIABC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)241162.1; NC_(—)002570).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:14 (675 amino acids) has about 50% identity from amino acids 17-648 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is a PTS system, beta-glucosides-specific IIABC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)348035.1; NC_(—)003030), about 50% identity from amino acids 17-656 with a protein from Bacillus halodurans that is a PTS system, beta-glucoside-specific enzyme IIABC (Accession Nos. NP_(—)241461.1; NC_(—)002570), about 50% identity from amino acids 17-656 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to a PTS system, beta-glucosides specific enzyme IIABC (Accession Nos. NP_(—)463560.1; NC_(—)003210), about 48% identity from amino acids 17-654 with a protein from Clostridium longisporum that is a PTS-dependent enzyme II (Accession Nos. gb|AAC05713.1; L49336), and 48% identity from amino acids 13-654 with a protein from Streptococcus mutans that is a beta-glucoside-specific EII permease (Accession Nos. gb|AAF89975.1; AF206272).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:16 (445 amino acids) has about 41% identity from amino acids 10-443 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is a phosphotransferase system (PTS) protein, lichenan-specific enzyme IIC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)391737.1; NC_(—)000964), about 42% identity from amino acids 14-442 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is homologous to a PTS system IIBC component (ywbA) (Accession No. sp|P39584|YWBA_BACSU), about 41% identity from amino acids 14-441 with a protein from Bacillus stearothermophilus that is a cellobiose phosphotransferase enzyme IIC component (Accession No. sp|Q45400|PTCC_BACST), about 41% identity from amino acids 12-441 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a phosphotransferase system sugar-specific EII component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)358015.1; NC_(—)003098), and 40% identity from amino acids 12-441 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a PTS system, cellobiose-specific IIC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)344993.1; NC_(—)003028).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:18 (422 amino acids) has about 34% identity from amino acids 9-417 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is homologous to a phosphotransferase system enzyme II (Accession Nos. NP_(—)391718.1; NC_(—)000964), about 33% identity from amino acids 17-414 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is a phosphotransferase system (PTS) lichenan-specific enzyme IIC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)391737.1; NC_(—)000964), about 34% identity from amino acids 10-417 with a protein from Bacillus stearothermophilus that is a cellobiose phosphotransferase enzyme IIC component (Accession No. sp|Q45400|PTCC_BACST), about 33% identity from amino acids 9-414 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a PTS system, cellobiose-specific IIC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)470241.1; NC_(—)003212), and 31% identity from amino acids 11-415 with a protein from Borrelia burgdorferi that is a PTS system, cellobiose-specific IIC component (celB) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)046990.1; NC_(—)001903).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:20 (130 amino acids) has about 33% identity from amino acids 3-124 with a protein from Brucella melitensis that is a phosphotransferase system IIA component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)540949.1; NC_(—)003317), about 32% identity from amino acids 2-102 with a protein from Lactobacillus curvatus that is an EIIA-mannose protein (Accession Nos. gb|AAB04153.1; U28163), about 32% identity from amino acids 3-96 with a protein from Clostridium perfringens that is homologous to a PTS system protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)563545.1; NC_(—)003366), about 25% identity from amino acids 3-123 with a protein from Clostridium perfringens that is homologous to a PTS system protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)561737.1; NC_(—)003366), and 25% identity from amino acids 3-123 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is a mannose-specific phosphotransferase system component IIAB (Accession Nos. NP_(—)149230.1; NC_(—)001988).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:22 (162 amino acids) has about 38% identity from amino acids 8-159 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is a PTS system enzyme IIBC component (galactitol/fructose-specific) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)349560.1; NC_(—)003030), about 36% identity from amino acids 7-158 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a phosphotransferase system sugar-specific EII component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)358156.1; NC_(—)003098), about 36% identity from amino acids 7-158 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is homologous to a PTS system IIA component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)345152.1; NC_(—)003028), about 38% identity from amino acids 20-134 with a protein from Streptococcus agalactiae that is a GatA protein (Accession Nos. gb|AAG09977.1; AF248038), and 33% identity from amino acids 16-159 with a protein from Bacillus halodurans that is a PTS system, galactitol-specific enzyme IIA component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)241058.1; NC_(—)002570).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:24 (466 amino acids) has about 47% identity from amino acids 30-461 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is a PTS cellobiose-specific component IIC (Accession NP_(—)347026.1; NC_(—)003030), about 45% identity from amino acids 26-465 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a cellobiose-specific PTS system IIC component (EC 2.7.1.69)(Accession Nos. NP_(—)266974.1; NC_(—)002662), about 46% identity from amino acids 82-465 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a cellobiose-specific PTS system IIC component (EC 2.7.1.69)(Accession Nos. NP_(—)266572.1; NC_(—)002662), about 41% identity from amino acids 34-466 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a PTS system, enzyme IIC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)269994.1; NC_(—)002737), and 40% identity from amino acids 34-466 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a PTS system, enzyme IIC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)608069.1; NC_(—)003485).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:26 (428 amino acids) has about 28% identity from amino acids 25-420 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a PTS cellobiose-specific enzyme IIC (Accession NP_(—)472233.1; NC_(—)003212), about 27% identity from amino acids 115-415 with a protein from Lactobacillus casei that is a LacE protein (Accession Nos. emb|CAB02556.1; Z80834), about 26% identity from amino acids 137-425 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a PTS system, cellobiose-specific enzyme IIC (Accession Nos. NP_(—)472184.1; NC_(—)003212), about 26% identity from amino acids 137-425 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to a PTS system, cellobiose-specific enzyme IIC (Accession Nos. NP_(—)466230.1; NC_(—)003210), and 26% identity from amino acids 115-415 with a protein from Lactobacillus casei that is a phosphotransferase system enzyme II (EC 2.7.1.69)(Accession No. pir∥B23697).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:28 (475 amino acids) has about 57% identity from amino acids 10-471 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a cellobiose-specific PTS system IIC component (EC 2.7.1.69) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)266974.1; NC_(—)002662), about 45% identity from amino acids 71-475 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a cellobiose-specific PTS system IIC component (EC 2.7.1.69)(Accession Nos. NP_(—)266572.1; NC_(—)002662), about 42% identity from amino acids 13-470 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is a PTS cellobiose-specific component IIC (Accession Nos. NP_(—)347026.1; NC_(—)003030), about 41% identity from amino acids 17-468 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a PTS system, enzyme IIC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)269994.1; NC_(—)002737), and 41% identity from amino acids 17-468 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a PTS system, enzyme IIC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)608069.1| (NC_(—)003485).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:30 (441 amino acids) has about 46% identity from amino acids 1-428 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a PTS system, cellobiose-specific enzyme IIC (Accession Nos. NP_(—)472184.1; NC_(—)003212), about 46% identity from amino acids 1-428 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to a PTS system, cellobiose-specific enzyme IIC (Accession Nos. NP_(—)466230.1; NC_(—)003210), about 39% identity from amino acids 10-427 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a PTS system IIC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)607435.1; NC_(—)003485), about 36% identity from amino acids 1-428 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a cellobiose-specific PTS system IIC component (EC 2.7.1.69)(Accession Nos. NP_(—)266330.1; NC_(—)002662), and 31% identity from amino acids 1-421 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to a cellobiose phosphotransferase enzyme IIC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)466206.1; NC_(—)003210).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:32 (626 amino acids) has about 54% identity from amino acids 1-532 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is a phosphotransferase system (PTS) arbutin-like enzyme IIBC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)388701.1; NC_(—)000964), about 51% identity from amino acids 2-530 with a protein from Clostridium perfringens that is a PTS arbutin-like enzyme IIBC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)561112.1; NC_(—)003366), about 52% identity from amino acids 1-533 with a protein from Fusobacterium mortiferum that is a PTS protein EII (Accession Nos. gb|AAB63014.2; U81185), about 51% identity from amino acids 1-533 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is a MalP protein (Accession Nos. gb|AAK69555.1; AF290982), and 51% identity from amino acids 1-533 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is a PTS system, arbutin-like IIBC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)347171.1; NC_(—)003030).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:34 (663 amino acids) has about 58% identity from amino acids 1-456 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a sucrose-specific PTS system IIBC component (EC2.7.1.69) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267287.1; NC_(—)002662), about 54% identity from amino acids 5-471 with a protein from Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus that is homologous to a sucrose phosphotransferase enzyme II (Accession Nos. NP_(—)373429.1; NC_(—)002745), about 46% identity from amino acids 5-472 with a protein from Bacillus halodurans that is a PTS system, sucrose phosphotransferase enzyme IIBC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)244441.1; NC_(—)002570), about 39% identity from amino acids 4-468 with a protein from Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhi that is homologous to a PTS system IIBC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)457099.1; NC_(—)003198), and 39% identity from amino acids 4-468 with a protein from Salmonella typhimurium that is homologous to a phosphotransferase system IIB component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)461505.1; NC_(—)003197).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:36 (665 amino acids) has about 44% identity from amino acids 1-661 with a protein from Clostridium perfringens that is a PTS system protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)561500.1; NC_(—)003366), about 46% identity from amino acids 1-657 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a fructose-specific enzyme II, PTS system BC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)269062.1; NC_(—)002737), about 46% identity from amino acids 1-657 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a fructose-specific enzyme II, PTS system BC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)607065.1; NC_(—)003485), about 45% identity from amino acids 1-657 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a fructose-specific PTS system enzyme IIBC component (EC 2.7.1.69) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267115.1; NC_(—)002662), and 43% identity from amino acids 1-660 with a protein from Bacillus halodurans that is a PTS system, fructose-specific enzyme IIBC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)241694.1; NC_(—)002570).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:38 (334 amino acids) has about 48% identity from amino acids 4-334 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a sucrose operon repressor (Scr operon regulatory protein) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)359213.1; NC_(—)003098), about 46% identity from amino acids 4-334 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a sugar-binding transcriptional regulator in the LacI family (Accession Nos. NP_(—)346232.1; NC_(—)003028), about 35% identity from amino acids 13-332 with a protein from Pediococcus pentosaceus that is a sucrose operon repressor (Scr operon regulatory protein) (Accession No. sp|P43472|SCRR_PEDPE), about 35% identity from amino acids 10-334 with a protein from Bacillus halodurans that is a transcriptional repressor of the ribose operon (Accession Nos. NP_(—)244594.1; NC_(—)002570), and 35% identity from amino acids 10-332 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a sucrose operon repressor (Accession Nos. NP_(—)346162.1; NC_(—)003028).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:40 (415 amino acids) has about 50% identity from amino acids 3-415 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter substrate-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)359212.1; NC_(—)003098), about 27% identity from amino acids 19-389 with a protein from Agrobacterium tumefaciens that is a sugar binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)535638.1; NC_(—)003306), about 25% identity from amino acids 11-396 with a protein from Nostoc sp. PCC 7120 that is an ABC transporter sugar binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)488317.1; NC_(—)003272), about 26% identity from amino acids 76-353 with a protein from Streptomyces coelicolor that is homologous to a sugar transport sugar binding protein (Accession Nos. emb|CAB95275.1; AL359779), and 26% identity from amino acids 1-324 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a sugar ABC transporter, periplasmic sugar-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)470104.1; NC_(—)003212).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:42 (294 amino acids) has about 56% identity from amino acids 10-285 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter membrane-spanning permease-sugar transporter (Accession Nos. NP_(—)359211.1; NC_(—)003098), about 38% identity from amino acids 7-285 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to a sugar ABC transporter permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)464293.1; NC_(—)003210), about 38% identity from amino acids 7-285 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a sugar ABC transporter permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)470102.1; NC_(—)003212), about 36% identity from amino acids 12-286 with a protein from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 that is a lactose transport system permease protein (LacF) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)440703.1; NC_(—)000911), and 36% identity from amino acids 11-281 with a protein from Xylella fastidiosa that is a ABC transporter sugar permease (Accession Nos. NP_(—)299726.1; NC_(—)002488).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:44 (285 amino acids) has about 59% identity from amino acids 12-285 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter membrane-spanning permease—sugar transport protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)359210.1; NC_(—)003098), about 32% identity from amino acids 30-281 with a protein from Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Accession Nos. NP_(—)356672.1; NC_(—)003063), about 32% identity from amino acids 30-281 with a protein from Agrobacterium tumefaciens that is an ABC transporter, membrane spanning protein [sugar] (Accession Nos. NP_(—)534455.1; NC_(—)003305), about 33% identity from amino acids 10-281 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to a sugar ABC transporter, permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)463711.1; NC_(—)003210), and 34% identity from amino acids 13-281 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a sugar ABC transporter, permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)469564.1; NC_(—)003212).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:46 (430 amino acids) has about 36% identity from amino acids 2-429 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a sucrose-6-phosphate hydrolase (Accession Nos. NP_(—)359209.1; NC_(—)003098), about 36% identity from amino acids 2-429 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is homologous to a sucrose-6-phosphate hydrolase (Accession Nos. NP_(—)346228.1; NC_(—)003028), about 36% identity from amino acids 18-373 with a protein from Thermotoga maritima that is a beta-fructosidase (Accession Nos. NP_(—)229215.1; NC_(—)000853), about 31% identity from amino acids 21-405 with a protein from Zymomonas mobilis that is a beta-fructofuranosidase (EC 3.2.1.26) (Accession No. pir∥JU0460), and 35% identity from amino acids 21-362 with a protein from Escherichia coli that is a sucrose-6 phosphate hydrolase (Accession Nos. NP_(—)311270.1; NC_(—)002695).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:48 (368 amino acids) has about 65% identity from amino acids 1-366 with a protein from Streptococcus mutans that is a multiple sugar-binding transport ATP-binding protein (msmK) (Accession No. sp|Q00752|MSMK_STRMU), about 65% identity from amino acids 1-366 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is a multiple sugar-binding ABC transport system (ATP-binding protein) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)269942.1; NC_(—)002737), about 66% identity from amino acids 1-367 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter ATP-binding protein—multiple sugar transport (Accession Nos. NP_(—)359030.1; NC_(—)003098), about 65% identity from amino acids 1-366 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is a multiple sugar-binding ABC transport system (ATP-binding protein) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)608016.1; NC_(—)003485), and 66% identity from amino acids 1-367 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a sugar ABC transporter, ATP-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)346026.1; NC_(—)003028).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:50 (490 amino acids) has about 63% identity from amino acids 11-489 with a protein from Streptococcus mutans that is a gtfA protein (Accession No. pir∥BWSOGM), about 63% identity from amino acids 11-490 with a protein from Streptococcus mutans that is a sucrose phosphorylase (EC 2.4.1.7) (Accession No. pir∥A27626), about 63% identity from amino acids 11-489 with a protein from Streptococcus mutans that is a sucrose phosphorylase (sucrose glucosyltransferase) (Accession No. sp|P10249|SUCP_STRMU), about 63% identity from amino acids 11-484 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a dextransucrase (sucrose 6-glucosyltransferase) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)359301.1; NC_(—)003098), and 63% identity from amino acids 11-484 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a sucrose phosphorylase (Accession Nos. NP_(—)346325.1; NC_(—)003028).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:52 (328 amino acids) has about 55% identity from amino acids 47-316 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is a ribose ABC transporter (ribose-binding protein) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)391477.1; NC_(—)000964), about 45% identity from amino acids 5-323 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a ribose ABC transporter substrate binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267791.1; NC_(—)002662), about 42% identity from amino acids 4-278 with a protein from Tetragenococcus halophilus that is a ribose binding protein (Accession Nos. dbj|BAA31869.1; AB009593), about 39% identity from amino acids 15-316 with a protein from Bacillus halodurans that is a ribose ABC transporter (ribose-binding protein) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)244599.1; NC_(—)002570), and 42% identity from amino acids 4-315 with a protein from Pasteurella multocida that is an RbsB protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)245090.1; NC_(—)002663).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:54 (285 amino acids) has about 60% identity from amino acids 1-277 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is a ribose ABC transporter (permease) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)391476.1; NC_(—)000964), about 59% identity from amino acids 1-277 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is a ribose transport system permease protein (rbcS) (Accession No. sp|P36948|RBSC_BACSU), about 57% identity from amino acids 4-277 with a protein from Bacillus halodurans that is a ribose ABC transporter (permease) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)244598.1; NC_(—)002570), about 58% identity from amino acids 4-277 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a ribose ABC transporter permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267792.1; NC_(—)002662), and 54% identity from amino acids 4-278 with a protein from Haemophilus influenzae that is a D-ribose ABC transporter, permease protein (rbsC) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)438661.1; NC_(—)000907).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:56 (496 amino acids) has about 59% identity from amino acids 5-496 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a ribose ABC transporter ATP binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267793.1; NC_(—)002662), about 57% identity from amino acids 5-496 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is a ribose ABC transporter (ATP-binding protein) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)391475.1; NC_(—)000964), about 51% identity from amino acids 5-496 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is an ATP binding protein (Accession No. pir∥I40465), about 49% identity from amino acids 5-495 with a protein from Bacillus halodurans that is a ribose ABC transporter (ATP-binding protein) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)244597.1; NC_(—)002570), and 45% identity from amino acids 7-494 with a protein from Agrobacterium tumefaciens that is an ABC transporter, nucleotide binding/ATPase protein [ribose] (Accession Nos. NP_(—)533484.1; NC_(—)003304).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:58 (134 amino acids) has about 58% identity from amino acids 4-134 with a protein from Lactobacillus sakei that is a ribose permease (RbsD) (Accession Nos. gb|AAD34337.1; AF115391), about 51% identity from amino acids 4-134 with a protein from Clostridium perfringens that is homologous to a ribose ABC transporter (Accession Nos. NP_(—)562547.1; NC_(—)003366), about 50% identity from amino acids 4-132 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a ribose ABC transporter permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267794.1; NC_(—)002662), about 45% identity from amino acids 4-134 with a protein from Bacillus halodurans that is a ribose ABC transporter (permease) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)244596.1; NC_(—)002570), and 51% identity from amino acids 4-134 with a protein from Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus that is a ribose permease (Accession Nos. NP_(—)370793.1; NC_(—)002758).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:60 (308 amino acids) has about 51% identity from amino acids 4-301 with a protein from Lactobacillus sakei that is a ribokinase (RbsK) (Accession Nos. gb|AAD34338.1; AF115391), about 48% identity from amino acids 1-303 with a protein from Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus that is homologous to a ribokinase (Accession Nos. NP_(—)370792.1; NC_(—)002758), about 45% identity from amino acids 3-305 with a protein from Clostridium perfringens that is a ribokinase (Accession Nos. NP_(—)562548.1; NC_(—)003366), about 41% identity from amino acids 1-299 with a protein from Haemophilus influenzae that is a ribokinase (RbsK) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)438663.1; NC_(—)000907), and 38% identity from amino acids 2-300 with a protein from Yersinia pestis that is a ribokinase (Accession Nos. NP_(—)403674.1; NC_(—)003143).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:62 (285 amino acids) has about 63% identity from amino acids 1-285 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a maltose ABC transporter permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267841.1; NC_(—)002662), about 54% identity from amino acids 6-284 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a maltose/maltodextrin ABC transport system protein (permease) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)269423.1; NC_(—)002737), about 38% identity from amino acids 12-284 with a protein from Klebsiella oxytoca that is homologous to a malG protein (Accession No. pir∥S63616), about 39% identity from amino acids 9-285 with a protein from Bacillus halodurans that is a maltose/maltodextrin transport system (permease) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)243790.1; NC_(—)002570), and 36% identity from amino acids 7-285 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is homologous to a maltodextrin transport system permease (Accession Nos. NP_(—)391294.1; NC_(—)000964).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:64 (452 amino acids) has about 63% identity from amino acids 1-452 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a maltose ABC transporter permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267840.1; NC_(—)002662), about 52% identity from amino acids 3-452 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a maltose/maltodextrin ABC transport system protein (permease) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)269422.1; NC_(—)002737), about 52% identity from amino acids 3-452 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a maltose/maltodextrin ABC transport system (permease) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)607422.1; NC_(—)003485), about 34% identity from amino acids 28-451 with a protein from Klebsiella oxytoca that is homologous to a malF protein (Accession No. pir∥S63615), and 33% identity from amino acids 23-451 with a protein from Bacillus halodurans that is a maltose/maltodextrin transport system permease (Accession Nos. NP_(—)243791.1; NC_(—)002570).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:66 (408 amino acids) has about 49% identity from amino acids 1-407 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a maltose ABC transporter substrate binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267839.1; NC_(—)002662), about 37% identity from amino acids 1-405 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a maltose/maltodextrin-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)607421.1; NC_(—)003485), about 36% identity from amino acids 1-405 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a maltose/maltodextrin-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)269421.1; NC_(—)002737), about 27% identity from amino acids 1-393 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a maltose/maltodextrin ABC-transporter (binding protein) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)471563.1; NC_(—)003212), and 26% identity from amino acids 1-403 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is homologous to a maltose/maltodextrin-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)391296.1; NC_(—)000964).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:68 (368 amino acids) has about 64% identity from amino acids 1-366 with a protein from Streptococcus mutans that is a multiple sugar-binding transport ATP-binding protein (msmK) (Accession No. sp|Q00752|MSMK_STRMU), about 64% identity from amino acids 1-366 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is a multiple sugar-binding ABC transport system (ATP-binding) protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)269942.1; NC_(—)002737), about 64% identity from amino acids 1-366 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is a multiple sugar-binding ABC transport system (ATP-binding) protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)608016.1; NC_(—)003485), about 64% identity from amino acids 1-366 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter ATP-binding protein—multiple sugar transport (Accession Nos. NP_(—)359030.1; NC_(—)003098), and 62% identity from amino acids 1-368 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a multiple sugar ABC transporter ATP-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)266577.1; NC_(—)002662).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:70 (512 amino acids) has about 60% identity from amino acids 1-510 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a sugar ABC transporter (ATP-binding protein) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)269365.1; NC_(—)002737), about 60% identity from amino acids 1-510 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a sugar ABC transporter (ATP-binding protein) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)607296.1; NC_(—)003485), about 59% identity from amino acids 5-503 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a sugar ABC transporter ATP binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267484.1; NC_(—)002662), about 61% identity from amino acids 7-503 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a sugar ABC transporter, ATP-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)345337.1; NC_(—)003028), and 60% identity from amino acids 7-503 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a ABC transporter ATP-binding protein-ribose/galactose transport (Accession Nos. NP_(—)358342.1; NC_(—)003098).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:72 (383 amino acids) has about 49% identity from amino acids 7-351 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a sugar ABC transporter permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267485.1; NC_(—)002662), about 47% identity from amino acids 4-351 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter membrane-spanning permease (ribose/galactose transport) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)358343.1; NC_(—)003098), about 47% identity from amino acids 4-351 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is homologous to a sugar ABC transporter, permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)345338.1; NC_(—)003028), about 49% identity from amino acids 4-342 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a sugar ABC transporter (permease protein) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)269364.1; NC_(—)002737), and 49% identity from amino acids 4-342 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a sugar ABC transporter (permease protein) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)607295.1; NC_(—)003485).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:74 (318 amino acids) has about 67% identity from amino acids 1-318 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a sugar ABC transporter (permease protein) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)607294.1; NC_(—)003485), about 66% identity from amino acids 1-318 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a sugar ABC transporter (permease protein) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)269363.1; NC_(—)002737), about 65% identity from amino acids 1-318 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is homologous to a sugar ABC transporter, permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)345339.1; NC_(—)003028), about 63% identity from amino acids 1-318 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a sugar ABC transporter permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267486.1; NC_(—)002662), and 61% identity from amino acids 6-318 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a sugar ABC transporter (permease protein) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)470764.1; NC_(—)003212).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:76 (450 amino acids) has about 68% identity from amino acids 11-448 with a protein from Neisseria meningitidis that is homologous to a sugar transporter (Accession Nos. NP_(—)273437.1; NC_(—)003112), about 68% identity from amino acids 11-448 with a protein from Neisseria meningitidis that is homologous to an integral membrane transport protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)284797.1; NC_(—)003116), about 39% identity from amino acids 17-229 with a protein from Caulobacter crescentus that is homologous to a transporter (Accession Nos. NP_(—)421086.1; NC_(—)002696), about 21% identity from amino acids 31-450 with a protein from Lycopersicon esculentum that is a sucrose transporter (Accession Nos. gb|AAG09270.1; AF176950), and 21% identity from amino acids 31-442 with a protein from Arabidopsis thaliana that is a sucrose transporter (Accession Nos. gb|AAG09191.1; AF175321).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:78 (495 amino acids) has about 32% identity from amino acids 8-482 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a transporter protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)266394.1; NC_(—)002662), about 34% identity from amino acids 8-482 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to an efflux transporter (Accession Nos. NP_(—)464506.1; NC_(—)003210), about 34% identity from amino acids 8-482 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to an efflux transporter (Accession Nos. NP_(—)470317.1; NC_(—)003212), about 30% identity from amino acids 7-422 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is an MDR related permease (Accession Nos. NP_(—)149294.1; NC_(—)001988), and 29% identity from amino acids 8-425 with a protein from Streptomyces coelicolor that is homologous to a membrane transport protein (Accession Nos. emb|CAB89031.1; AL353870).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:80 (471 amino acids) has about 32% identity from amino acids 1-440 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a transporter protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)266394.1; NC_(—)002662), about 34% identity from amino acids 1-464 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to an efflux transporter (Accession Nos. NP_(—)464506.1; NC_(—)003210), about 34% identity from amino acids 1-464 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to an efflux transporter (Accession Nos. NP_(—)470317.1; NC_(—)003212), about 29% identity from amino acids 1-412 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is an MDR related permease (Accession Nos. NP_(—)149294.1; NC_(—)001988), and 28% identity from amino acids 4-459 with a protein from Streptomyces coelicolor that is homologous to an exporter (Accession No. pir∥T36377).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:82 (412 amino acids) has about 49% identity from amino acids 18-400 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a drug-efflux transporter (Accession Nos. NP_(—)472212.1; NC_(—)003212), about 49% identity from amino acids 18-400 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to a drug-efflux transporter (Accession Nos. NP_(—)466263.1; NC_(—)003210), about 48% identity from amino acids 18-397 with a protein from Escherichia coli that is homologous to a transport protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)415571.1; NC_(—)000913), about 47% identity from amino acids 15-399 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a multidrug resistance efflux pump (Accession Nos. NP_(—)266282.1; NC_(—)002662), and 48% identity from amino acids 18-399 with a protein from Salmonella typhimurium that is homologous to an MFS family transport protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)460125.1; NC_(—)003197).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:84 (462 amino acids) has about 38% identity from amino acids 9-413 with ORFC from Oenococcus oeni (Accession Nos. emb|CAB61253.1; AJ250422), about 38% identity from amino acids 2-378 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a transporter protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267695.1; NC_(—)002662), about 34% identity from amino acids 6-411 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a drug resistance protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)606824.1; NC_(—)003485), about 33% identity from amino acids 6-411 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a drug resistance protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)268834.1; NC_(—)002737), and 34% identity from amino acids 2-454 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a drug-export protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267504.1; NC_(—)002662).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:86 (490 amino acids) has about 55% identity from amino acids 3-476 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to a drug-export protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)466111.1; NC_(—)003210), about 54% identity from amino acids 3-476 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a drug-export protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)472062.1; NC_(—)003212), about 45% identity from amino acids 6-478 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a multidrug resistance protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267065.1; NC_(—)002662), about 49% identity from amino acids 8-484 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is homologous to a multidrug resistance protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)388266.1; NC_(—)000964), and 44% identity from amino acids 18-425 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is homologous to a multidrug resistance protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)388782.1; NC_(—)000964).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:88 (416 amino acids) has about 26% identity from amino acids 17-408 with a protein from Desulfitobacterium hafniense (Accession Nos. gb|AAL87781.1; AF403184), about 25% identity from amino acids 26-408 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is transporter in the major facilitator superfamily (Accession Nos. NP_(—)359046.1; NC_(—)003098), about 21% identity from amino acids 61-399 with a protein from Campylobacter jejuni that is homologous to an efflux protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)282813.1; NC_(—)002163), about 19% identity from amino acids 25-368 with a protein from Agrobacterium tumefaciens that is homologous to an MFS permease (Accession Nos. NP_(—)533033.1; NC_(—)003304), and 25% identity from amino acids 19-205 with a protein from Bacillus halodurans that is a multidrug resistance protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)244175.1; NC_(—)002570).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:90 (548 amino acids) has about 38% identity from amino acids 17-546 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a transporter protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)471001.1; NC_(—)003212), about 37% identity from amino acids 17-546 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to a transporter protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)465149.1; NC_(—)003210), about 36% identity from amino acids 1-534 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a polysaccharide transporter (Accession Nos. NP_(—)358976.1; NC_(—)003098), about 36% identity from amino acids 17-534 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is homologous to a polysaccharide biosynthesis protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)345978.1; NC_(—)003028), and 35% identity from amino acids 12-546 with a hypothetical protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267962.1; NC_(—)002662).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:92 (485 amino acids) has about 44% identity from amino acids 1-484 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to an efflux transporter protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)464506.1; NC_(—)003210), about 44% identity from amino acids 1-484 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to an efflux transporter protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)470317.1; NC_(—)003212), about 34% identity from amino acids 9-420 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is an MDR-related permease (Accession Nos. NP_(—)149294.1; NC_(—)001988), about 33% identity from amino acids 12-475 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a transporter protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)266394.1; NC_(—)002662), and 34% identity from amino acids 1-457 with a hypothetical protein from Myxococcus xanthus (Accession Nos. emb|CAB37973.1; X76640).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:94 (199 amino acids) has about 46% identity from amino acids 23-173 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a drug-efflux transporter protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)472212.1; NC_(—)003212), about 45% identity from amino acids 23-173 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to a drug-efflux transporter protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)466263.1; NC_(—)003210), about 49% identity from amino acids 23-173 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a multidrug resistance efflux pump (Accession Nos. NP_(—)266282.1; NC_(—)002662), about 46% identity from amino acids 23-173 with a protein from Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhi that is homologous to an efflux pump (Accession Nos. NP_(—)454977.1; NC_(—)003198), and 46% identity from amino acids 23-173 with a protein from Salmonella typhimurium that is homologous to a permease (Accession Nos. NP_(—)459377.1; NC_(—)003197).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:96 (538 amino acids) has about 32% identity from amino acids 4-525 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a polysaccharide transporter (Accession Nos. NP_(—)358976.1; NC_(—)003098), about 32% identity from amino acids 5-525 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is homologous to a polysaccharide biosynthesis protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)345978.1; NC_(—)003028), about 33% identity from amino acids 5-526 with a conserved hypothetical protein from Streptococcus pyogenes (Accession Nos. NP_(—)606680.1; NC_(—)003485), about 33% identity from amino acids 5-526 with a conserved hypothetical protein from Streptococcus pyogenes (Accession Nos. NP_(—)268708.1; NC_(—)002737), and 30% identity from amino acids 4-526 with a hypothetical protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267962.1; NC_(—)002662).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:98 (328 amino acids) has about 57% identity from amino acids 1-323 with a protein from Pediococcus pentosaceus that is a sucrose operon regulatory protein (scrR) (Accession No. sp|P43472|SCRR_PEDPE), about 51% identity from amino acids 1-322 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a sucrose operon repressor (Accession Nos. NP_(—)346162.1; NC_(—)003028), about 49% identity from amino acids 1-326 with a protein from Streptococcus mutans that is a sucrose operon regulatory protein (scrR) (Accession No. sp|Q54430|SCRR_STRMU), about 49% identity from amino acids 1-322 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a sucrose operon repressor (Accession Nos. NP_(—)607889.1; NC_(—)003485), and 49% identity from amino acids 1-322 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a sucrose operon repressor (Accession Nos. NP_(—)269821.1; NC_(—)002737).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:100 (485 amino acids) has about 50% identity from amino acids 1-466 with a protein from Streptococcus sobrinus that is a sucrose-6-phosphate hydrolase (ScrB) (Accession No. pir∥S68598), about 49% identity from amino acids 1-461 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a sucrose-6-phosphate hydrolase (Accession Nos. NP_(—)359160.1; NC_(—)003098), about 49% identity from amino acids 1-461 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a sucrose-6-phosphate hydrolase (Accession Nos. NP_(—)346161.1; NC_(—)003028), about 49% identity from amino acids 1-466 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a sucrose-6-phosphate hydrolase (Accession Nos. NP_(—)607888.1; NC_(—)003485), and 49% identity from amino acids 1-466 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a sucrose-6-phosphate hydrolase (Accession Nos. NP_(—)269820.1; NC_(—)002737).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:102 (649 amino acids) has about 65% identity from amino acids 1-645 with a protein from Streptococcus mutans that is a phosphotransferase system enzyme II (EC 2.7.1.69), sucrose-specific IIABC component (Accession No. sp|P12655|PTSA_STRMU), about 56% identity from amino acids 1-647 with a protein from Pediococcus pentosaceus that is a phosphotransferase system enzyme II (EC 2.7.1.69), sucrose specific enzyme IIABC (Accession No. sp|P43470|PTSA_PEDPE), about 52% identity from amino acids 1-643 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis that is an enzyme II sucrose protein (Accession Nos. emb|CAB09690.1; Z97015), about 52% identity from amino acids 114-647 with a protein from Lactobacillus sakei that is a sucrose-specific enzyme II of the PTS (Accession Nos. gb|AAK92528.1; AF401046), and 45% identity from amino acids 1-621 with a protein from Corynebacterium glutamicum that is a phosphotransferase system IIB component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)601842.1; NC_(—)003450).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:104 (667 amino acids) has about 42% identity from amino acids 192-661 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a beta-glucoside-specific PTS system IIABC component (EC 2.7.1.69) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)266583.1; NC_(—)002662), about 39% identity from amino acids 191-652 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to a phosphotransferase system (PTS) beta-glucoside-specific enzyme IIABC (Accession Nos. NP_(—)464560.1; NC_(—)003210), about 37% identity from amino acids 191-662 with a protein from Clostridium longisporum that is a PTS-dependent enzyme II (Accession Nos. gb|AAC05713.1; L49336), about 36% identity from amino acids 191-666 with a protein from Bacillus halodurans that is a PTS system, beta-glucoside-specific enzyme II, ABC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)241461.1; NC_(—)002570), and 36% identity from amino acids 191-650 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a PTS system, beta-glucosides specific enzyme IIABC (Accession Nos. NP_(—)469373.1; NC_(—)003212).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:106 (241 amino acids) has about 47% identity from amino acids 1-238 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is a trehalose operon transcriptional repressor (Accession No. sp|P39796|TRER_BACSU), about 41% identity from amino acids 4-238 with a protein from Bacillus halodurans that is a transcriptional repressor of the trehalose operon (Accession Nos. NP_(—)241739.1; NC_(—)002570), about 44% identity from amino acids 9-237 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a transcription regulator GntR family (Accession Nos. NP_(—)470558.1; NC_(—)003212), about 44% identity from amino acids 9-237 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to a transcription regulator GntR family (Accession Nos. NP_(—)464778.1; NC_(—)003210), and 41% identity from amino acids 5-238 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a GntR family transcriptional regulator (Accession Nos. NP_(—)266581.1; NC_(—)002662).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:108 (570 amino acids) has about 56% identity from amino acids 22-566 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a dextran glucosidase (Accession Nos. NP_(—)608103.1; NC_(—)003485), about 57% identity from amino acids 23-568 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a dextran glucosidase (Accession Nos. NP_(—)359290.1; NC_(—)003098), about 56% identity from amino acids 22-566 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a dextran glucosidase (Accession Nos. NP_(—)270026.1; NC_(—)002737), about 57% identity from amino acids 23-568 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is homologous to a dextran glucosidase DexS (Accession Nos. NP_(—)346315.1; NC_(—)003028), and 54% identity from amino acids 17-570 with a protein from Clostridium perfringens that is an alpha-glucosidase (Accession Nos. NP_(—)561478.1; NC_(—)003366).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:110 (370 amino acids) has about 67% identity from amino acids 1-368 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter ATP-binding protein-multiple sugar transport (Accession Nos. NP_(—)359030.1; NC_(—)003098), about 67% identity from amino acids 1-368 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a sugar ABC transporter, ATP-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)346026.1; NC_(—)003028), about 66% identity from amino acids 1-368 with a protein from Streptococcus mutans that is a multiple sugar-binding transport ATP-binding protein (msmK) (Accession No. sp|Q00752|MSMK_STRMU), about 68% identity from amino acids 1-365 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a sugar ABC transporter, ATP-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)469649.1; NC_(—)003212), and 67% identity from amino acids 1-365 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to a sugar ABC transporter, ATP-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)463809.1; NC_(—)003210).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:112 (278 amino acids) has about 81% identity from amino acids 2-278 with a protein from Streptococcus mutans that is a multiple sugar-binding transport system permease protein (msmG) (Accession No. sp|Q00751|MSMG_STRMU), about 73% identity from amino acids 1-278 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a sugar ABC transporter, permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)346326.1; NC_(—)003028), about 72% identity from amino acids 2-278 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a ABC transporter membrane spanning permease-multiple sugars (Accession Nos. NP_(—)359302.1; NC_(—)003098), about 85% identity from amino acids 72-278 with a hypothetical protein fragment from Streptococcus mutans (Accession No. pir∥B27626), and 44% identity from amino acids 4-278 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is a sugar permease (Accession Nos. NP_(—)350251.1; NC_(—)003030).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:114 (291 amino acids) has about 73% identity from amino acids 4-290 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter membrane-spanning permease—multiple sugars (Accession Nos. NP_(—)359303.1; NC_(—)003098), about 73% identity from amino acids 4-290 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a sugar ABC transporter, permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)346327.1; NC_(—)003028), about 73% identity from amino acids 1-290 with a protein from Streptococcus mutans that is a multiple sugar-binding transport system permease protein (msmF) (Accession No. sp|Q00750|MSMF_STRMU), about 53% identity from amino acids 6-291 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is an ABC-type sugar transport system, permease component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)350252.1; NC_(—)003030), and 32% identity from amino acids 2-291 with a protein from Thermoanaerobacterium thermosulfurigenes that is a potential starch degradation products transport system permease protein (Accession No. sp|P37730|AMYD_THETU).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:116 (423 amino acids) has about 60% identity from amino acids 8-421 with a protein from Streptococcus mutans that is a multiple sugar-binding protein precursor (Accession No. sp|Q00749|MSME_STRMU), about 56% identity from amino acids 9-421 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a sugar ABC transporter, sugar-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)346328.1; NC_(—)003028), about 56% identity from amino acids 9-421 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter substrate-binding protein-multiple sugars (Accession Nos. NP_(—)359304.1; NC_(—)003098), about 29% identity from amino acids 9-420 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is an ABC-type sugar transport system, periplasmic sugar-binding component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)350253.1; NC_(—)003030), and 24% identity from amino acids 6-412 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is homologous to a multiple sugar-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)391140.1; NC_(—)000964).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:118 (279 amino acids) has about 57% identity from amino acids 1-273 with a protein from Pediococcus pentosaceus that is a raffinose operon transcriptional regulatory protein (rafR) (Accession No. sp|P43465|RAFR_PEDPE), about 35% identity from amino acids 5-273 with a protein from Streptococcus mutans that is homologous to a transcription regulator (msmR) (Accession No. pir∥A42400), about 35% identity from amino acids 5-273 with a protein from Streptococcus mutans that is an msm operon regulatory protein (Accession No. sp|Q00753|MSMR_STRMU), about 36% identity from amino acids 19-273 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an msm operon regulatory protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)346330.1; NC_(—)003028), and 36% identity from amino acids 19-273 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an msm (multiple sugar metabolism) operon regulatory protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)359306.1; NC_(—)003098).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:120 (277 amino acids) has about 28% identity from amino acids 37-141 with a protein from Treponema pallidum that is homologous to an rRNA methylase (Accession Nos. NP_(—)218549.1; NC_(—)000919), about 32% identity from amino acids 74-141 with a protein from Guillardia theta that is a GTP-binding nuclear protein RAN (Accession Nos. NP_(—)113408.1; NC_(—)002753), about 29% identity from amino acids 75-141 with a protein from Dictyostelium discoideum that is a GTP-binding nuclear protein RAN/TC4 (Accession No. sp|P33519|RAN_DICDI), and about 25% identity from amino acids 140-190 with a putative protein from Arabidopsis thaliana (Accession Nos. NP_(—)191798.1; NM_(—)116104).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:122 (530 amino acids) has about 26% identity from amino acids 8-524 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is an ABC transporter ATP binding and permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267678.1; NC_(—)002662), about 25% identity from amino acids 49-518 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter, ATP-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)344680.1; NC_(—)003028), about 25% identity from amino acids 49-518 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter ATP-binding/membrane spanning permease (Accession Nos. NP_(—)357731.1; NC_(—)003098), about 24% identity from amino acids 47-511 with a protein from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 that is an ABC transporter (Accession Nos. NP_(—)440626.1; NC_(—)000911), and 24% identity from amino acids 7-511 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is homologous to an ABC transporter (ATP-binding protein) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)388852.1; NC_(—)000964).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:124 (530 amino acids) has about 24% identity from amino acids 4-524 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is an ABC transporter ATP binding and permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267678.1; NC_(—)002662), about 25% identity from amino acids 55-508 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter, ATP-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)344680.1; NC_(—)003028), about 25% identity from amino acids 55-508 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter ATP-binding/membrane spanning permease (Accession Nos. NP_(—)357731.1; NC_(—)003098), about 24% identity from amino acids 1-511 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a drug efflux ABC transporter, ATP-binding/permease (Accession Nos. NP_(—)345800.1; NC_(—)003028), and 24% identity from amino acids 1-511 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter ATP-binding/membrane spanning protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)358796.1; NC_(—)003098).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:126 (527 amino acids) has about 25% identity from amino acids 8-527 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is an ABC transporter ATP binding and permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267678.1; NC_(—)002662), about 24% identity from amino acids 13-520 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter ATP-binding/membrane spanning permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)357731.1; NC_(—)003098), about 24% identity from amino acids 13-520 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter, ATP-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)344680.1; NC_(—)003028), about 22% identity from amino acids 22-511 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a drug efflux ABC transporter, ATP-binding/permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)345800.1; NC_(—)003028), and 22% identity from amino acids 22-511 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter ATP-binding/membrane spanning protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)358796.1; NC_(—)003098).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:128 (534 amino acids) has about 23% identity from amino acids 14-512 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a comA protein (Accession No. pir∥A39203), about 26% identity from amino acids 3-512 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis that is a Lactococcin A transport ATP-binding protein (lcnC) (Accession No. sp|Q00564|LCNC_LACLA), about 23% identity from amino acids 14-512 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a transport ATP-binding protein (ComA) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)357637.1; NC_(—)003098), about 25% identity from amino acids 113-509 with a protein from Streptococcus salivarius that is an ABC transporter (Accession Nos. gb|AAC72026.1; AF043280), and 22% identity from amino acids 14-512 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a competence factor transporting ATP-binding/permease protein (ComA) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)344591.1; NC_(—)003028).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:130 (527 amino acids) has about 23% identity from amino acids 16-524 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is an ABC transporter ATP binding and permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267678.1; NC_(—)002662), about 25% identity from amino acids 6-520 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter, ATP-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)344680.1; NC_(—)003028), about 25% identity from amino acids 6-520 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter ATP-binding/membrane spanning permease (Accession Nos. NP_(—)357731.1; NC_(—)003098), about 24% identity from amino acids 105-511 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter ATP-binding/membrane spanning protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)358796.1; NC_(—)003098), and 25% identity from amino acids 99-511 with a protein from Nostoc sp. PCC 7120 that is an ABC transporter ATP-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)490403.1; NC_(—)003276).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:132 (529 amino acids) has about 25% identity from amino acids 10-526 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is an ABC transporter ATP binding and permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267678.1; NC_(—)002662), about 26% identity from amino acids 112-525 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter ATP-binding/membrane spanning permease (Accession Nos. NP_(—)357731.1; NC_(—)003098), about 26% identity from amino acids 112-525 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter, ATP-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)344680.1; NC_(—)003028), about 24% identity from amino acids 107-518 with a protein from Brevibacillus brevis that is homologous to an ABC-transporter (TycD) (Accession No. pir∥T31077), and 24% identity from amino acids 83-521 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a drug efflux ABC transporter, ATP-binding/permease (Accession Nos. NP_(—)345800.1; NC_(—)003028).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:134 (600 amino acids) has about 23% identity from amino acids 2-600 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to an ABC transporter (permease) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)471553.1; NC_(—)003212), about 23% identity from amino acids 1-598 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to an ABC transporter (permease) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)465271.1; NC_(—)003210), about 22% identity from amino acids 1-599 with a protein from Clostridium perfringens that is homologous to an ABC transporter (Accession Nos. NP_(—)561767.1; NC_(—)003366), about 22% identity from amino acids 1-564 with a protein from Clostridium perfringens that is homologous to an ABC-transporter (Accession Nos. NP_(—)561039.1; NC_(—)003366), and 22% identity from amino acids 4-593 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is homologous to a permease (Accession Nos. NP_(—)346868.1; NC_(—)003030).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:136 (249 amino acids) has about 58% identity from amino acids 1-242 with a protein from Clostridium perfringens that is homologous to an ABC transporter (Accession Nos. NP_(—)561766.1; NC_(—)003366), about 55% identity from amino acids 3-242 with a protein from Clostridium perfringens that is homologous to an ABC transporter (Accession Nos. NP_(—)561038.1; NC_(—)003366), about 51% identity from amino acids 1-242 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to an ABC transporter (ATP-binding protein) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)465638.1; NC_(—)003210), about 50% identity from amino acids 1-242 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to an ABC-transporter (ATP-binding protein) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)471552.1; NC_(—)003212), and 54% identity from amino acids 3-242 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is an ABC transporter, ATP-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)346867.1; NC_(—)003030).

A Gapped BlastP sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:138 (423 amino acids) has about 21% identity from amino acids 2-391 with a hypothetical protein from Streptococcus pyogenes (Accession Nos. NP_(—)270004.1; NC_(—)002737), about 21% identity from amino acids 2-383 with a hypothetical protein from Streptococcus pyogenes (Accession Nos. NP_(—)608080.1; NC_(—)003485), about 26% identity from amino acids 9-166 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is a yvbJ protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)391268.1; NC_(—)000964), about 25% identity from amino acids 92-281 with a protein from caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus that is an env polyprotein precursor (Accession No. pir∥VCLJC6), and 24% identity from amino acids 92-281 with a protein from Caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus that is an envelope glycoprotein (Accession Nos. gb|AAD14661.1; AF105181).

A Gapped BlastP (version) sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:140 (438 amino acids) has about 27% identity from amino acids 86-216 with a protein from Brochothrix campestris that is a transport accessory protein (Accession Nos. gb|AAC95141.1; AF075600), about 26% identity from amino acids 107-219 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a bacterocin transport accessory protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)345950.1; NC_(—)003028), about 26% identity from amino acids 107-219 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a Bta (Accession Nos. gb|AAD56628.1; AF165218), 23% identity from amino acids 88-201 with a hypothetical protein from Bacillus anthracis (Accession Nos. NP_(—)052783.1; NC_(—)001496), and 32% identity from amino acids 144-214 with a protein from Neisseria meningitidis that is a thioredoxin (Accession Nos. NP_(—)274384.1; NC_(—)003112).

A Gapped BlastP (version) sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:142 (196 amino acids) has about 56% identity from amino acids 1-196 with a protein from Lactobacillus gasseri (Accession Nos. dbj|BAA82351.1; AB029612), about 49% identity from amino acids 10-196 with a hypothetical protein from Lactobacillus sp. (Accession No. sp|P29470|YLA1_LACAC), about 28% identity from amino acids 41-196 with a protein from Lactobacillus casei that is an ABC-transporter accessory factor (Accession Nos. NP_(—)542220.1; NC_(—)003320), 35% identity from amino acids 90-196 with a protein from Lactobacillus plantarum that is an accessory factor for ABC-transporter (PlnH) (Accession Nos. emb|CAA64190.1; X94434), and 30% identity from amino acids 41-196 with a protein from Lactobacillus sake that is homologous to an ABC exporter accessory factor (SapE) (Accession No. pir∥A56973).

A Gapped BlastP (version) sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:144 (720 amino acids) has about 62% identity from amino acids 9-720 with a protein from Lactobacillus plantarum that is an ABC-transporter (PlnG) (Accession Nos. emb|CAA64189.1; X94434), about 62% identity from amino acids 6-720 with a protein from Lactobacillus sakei that is homologous to a translocation protein (sppT), ATP-dependent (Accession No. pir∥S57913), about 62% identity from amino acids 2-720 with a protein from Lactobacillus sakei that is an ATP-dependent transport protein (SapT) (Accession No. pir∥I56273), 62% identity from amino acids 9-720 with a protein from Lactobacillus casei that is an ABC transporter (Accession Nos. NP_(—)542219.1; NC_(—)003320), and 57% identity from amino acids 25-718 with a protein from Lactobacillus acidophilus that is an ABC transporter (Accession Nos. NP_(—)604412.1; NC_(—)003458).

A Gapped BlastP (version) sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:146 (234 amino acids) has about 52% identity from amino acids 13-228 with a protein from Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus that is homologous to an ABC transporter ATP-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)370833.1; NC_(—)002758), about 50% identity from amino acids 11-234 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to an ABC transporter (ATP-binding protein) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)606994.1; NC_(—)003485), about 50% identity from amino acids 11-234 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to an ABC transporter (ATP-binding protein) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)268993.1; NC_(—)002737), 50% identity from amino acids 13-232 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is an ABC transporter ATP-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)266815.1; NC_(—)002662), and 53% identity from amino acids 11-233 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is an ABC transporter ATP-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)268413.1; NC_(—)002662).

A Gapped BlastP (version) sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:148 (353 amino acids) has about 40% identity from amino acids 1-352 with a hypothetical protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis (Accession Nos. NP_(—)268412.1; NC_(—)002662), about 38% identity from amino acids 1-352 with a conserved hypothetical protein from Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus (Accession Nos. NP_(—)370832.1; NC_(—)002758), about 33% identity from amino acids 1-352 with a conserved hypothetical protein from Streptococcus pyogenes (Accession Nos. NP_(—)268992.1; NC_(—)002737), 33% identity from amino acids 1-352 with a conserved hypothetical protein from Streptococcus pyogenes (Accession Nos. NP_(—)606993.1; NC_(—)003485), and 34% identity from amino acids 1-352 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is an ABC transporter permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)266816.1; NC_(—)002662).

A Gapped BlastP (version) sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:150 (188 amino acids) has about 47% identity from amino acids 14-85 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a transcriptional regulator (Accession Nos. NP_(—)266817.1; NC_(—)002662), about 28% identity from amino acids 21-90 with a protein from Aquifex aeolicus that is a transcriptional regulator in the TetR/AcrR family (Accession Nos. NP_(—)213195.1; NC_(—)000918), about 30% identity from amino acids 14-75 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is a transcriptional regulator in the AcrR family (Accession Nos. NP_(—)348163.1; NC_(—)003030), 29% identity from amino acids 25-109 with a protein from Streptomyces coelicolor that is homologous to a transcriptional regulator (Accession Nos. emb|CAB93030.1; AL357432), and 41% identity from amino acids 27-88 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is a transcriptional regulator in the TetR/AcrR family (Accession Nos. NP_(—)347457.1; NC_(—)003030).

A Gapped BlastP (version) sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:152 (236 amino acids) has about 65% identity from amino acids 3-236 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter ATP-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)359090.1; NC_(—)003098), about 66% identity from amino acids 4-236 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is an ABC transporter, ATP-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)346092.1; NC_(—)003028), about 65% identity from amino acids 4-236 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to an ABC transporter (ATP-binding protein) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)607321.1; NC_(—)003485), 65% identity from amino acids 4-236 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to an ABC transporter (ATP-binding protein) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)269390.1; NC_(—)002737), and 62% identity from amino acids 4-236 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to a ABC transporter, ATP-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)464748.1; NC_(—)003210).

A Gapped BlastP (version) sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:154 (846 amino acids) has about 41% identity from amino acids 6-846 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is an ABC transporter permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267260.1; NC_(—)002662), about 34% identity from amino acids 2-846 with a hypothetical protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae (Accession Nos. NP_(—)359089.1; NC_(—)003098), about 34% identity from amino acids 2-846 with a hypothetical protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae (Accession Nos. NP_(—)346091.1; NC_(—)003028), 33% identity from amino acids 4-846 with a hypothetical protein from Streptococcus pyogenes (Accession Nos. NP_(—)269389.1; NC_(—)002737), and 33% identity from amino acids 4-846 with a hypothetical protein from Streptococcus pyogenes (Accession Nos. NP_(—)607320.1; NC_(—)003485).

A Gapped BlastP (version) sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:156 (78 amino acids) has about 30% identity from amino acids 12-70 with a protein from Arabidopsis thaliana (Accession Nos. gb|AAF19707.1; AC008047), about 30% identity from amino acids 12-70 with a protein from Arabidopsis thaliana that is homologous to an ATP dependent copper transporter (Accession Nos. NP_(—)176533.1; NM_(—)105023), about 32% identity from amino acids 1-65 with a hypothetical protein from Pyrococcus furiosus (Accession Nos. NP_(—)579673.1; NC_(—)003413), and 37% identity from amino acids 21-55 with a protein from Hepatitis TT virus (Accession Nos. gb|AAK11712.1; AF345529).

A Gapped BlastP (version) sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:158 (379 amino acids) has about 36% identity from amino acids 32-368 with a conserved hypothetical protein from Listeria innocua (Accession Nos. NP_(—)470340.1; NC_(—)003212), about 37% identity from amino acids 32-353 with a conserved hypothetical protein from Listeria monocytogenes (Accession Nos. NP_(—)464529.1; NC_(—)003210), about 36% identity from amino acids 87-370 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis (Accession Nos. emb|CAA68042.1; X99710), 31% identity from amino acids 28-372 with a hypothetical protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267885.1; NC_(—)002662), and 30% identity from amino acids 32-348 with a protein from Actinosynnema pretiosum subsp. auranticum (Accession Nos. gb|AAC14002.1; U33059).

A Gapped BlastP (version) sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:160 (779 amino acids) has about 61% identity from amino acids 1-308 with a protein from Streptococcus mutans that is an ABC transporter ATP binding subunit (Accession Nos. gb|AAD09218.1; U73183), about 37% identity from amino acids 1-362 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is an ABC transporter ATP-binding and permease protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)266870.1; NC_(—)002662), about 39% identity from amino acids 1-295 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to an ABC transporter, ATP-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)464271.1; NC_(—)003210), 47% identity from amino acids 1-221 with a protein from Archaeoglobus fulgidus that is an ABC transporter, ATP-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)070298.1; NC_(—)000917), and 49% identity from amino acids 1-218 with a protein from Archaeoglobus fulgidus that is an ABC transporter, ATP-binding protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)069851.1; NC_(—)000917).

A Gapped BlastP (version) sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:162 (38 amino acids) has about 66% identity from amino acids 1-27 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is a mannose-specific phosphotransferase system component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)149230.1; NC_(—)001988), about 72% identity from amino acids 3-27 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to a PTS system mannose-specific factor IIAB (Accession Nos. NP_(—)463629.1; NC_(—)003210), about 72% identity from amino acids 3-27 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a PTS system mannose-specific factor IIAB (Accession Nos. NP_(—)469488.1; NC_(—)003212), 66% identity from amino acids 1-27 with a protein from Clostridium perfringens that is a PTS system protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)561737.1; NC_(—)003366), and 65% identity from amino acids 2-27 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is a mannose-specific phosphotransferase system component IIAB (Accession Nos. NP_(—)269761.1; NC_(—)002737).

A Gapped BlastP (version) sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:164 (105 amino acids) has about 60% identity from amino acids 1-103 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to a PTS system mannose-specific factor IIAB (Accession Nos. NP_(—)463629.1; NC_(—)003210), about 59% identity from amino acids 1-103 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a PTS system mannose-specific factor IIAB (Accession Nos. NP_(—)469488.1; NC_(—)003212), about 57% identity from amino acids 1-104 with a protein from Clostridium perfringens that is a PTS system protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)561737.1; NC_(—)003366), 53% identity from amino acids 1-104 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is a mannose-specific phosphotransferase system component IIAB (Accession Nos. NP_(—)149230.1; NC_(—)001988), and 54% identity from amino acids 1-96 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is a mannose-specific phosphotransferase system component IIAB (Accession Nos. NP_(—)607831.1; NC_(—)003485).

A Gapped BlastP (version) sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:166 (269 amino acids) has about 69% identity from amino acids 1-269 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a PTS system mannose-specific, factor IIC (Accession Nos. NP_(—)469489.1; NC_(—)003212), about 69% identity from amino acids 1-269 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to a PTS system mannose-specific, factor IIC (Accession Nos. NP_(—)463630.1; NC_(—)003210), about 67% identity from amino acids 1-269 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a PTS system, mannose-specific IIC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)344821.1; NC_(—)003028), 65% identity from amino acids 1-269 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a mannose-specific phosphotransferase system component IIC (Accession Nos. NP_(—)269762.1; NC_(—)002737), and 64% identity from amino acids 1-269 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is a mannose/fructose-specific phosphotransferase system component IIC (Accession Nos. NP_(—)149231.1; NC_(—)001988).

A Gapped BlastP (version) sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:168 (307 amino acids) has about 67% identity from amino acids 5-307 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a PTS system mannose-specific factor IID (Accession Nos. NP_(—)469490.1; NC_(—)003212), about 67% identity from amino acids 5-307 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to a PTS system mannose-specific factor IID (Accession Nos. NP_(—)463631.1; NC_(—)003210), about 64% identity from amino acids 6-303 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is a mannose-specific phosphotransferase system component IID (Accession Nos. NP_(—)149232.1; NC_(—)001988), 64% identity from amino acids 4-300 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a mannose-specific PTS system component IID (EC 2.7.1.69) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)267864.1; NC_(—)002662), and 64% identity from amino acids 5-307 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a PTS system, mannose-specific IID component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)344820.1; NC_(—)003028).

A Gapped BlastP (version) sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:170 (111 amino acids) has about 51% identity from amino acids 4-105 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a PTS system enzyme II protein (Accession Nos. NP_(—)269441.1; NC_(—)002737), about 54% identity from amino acids 4-110 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to a cellobiose phosphotransferase enzyme IIB component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)466205.1; NC_(—)003210), about 54% identity from amino acids 4-110 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a cellobiose phosphotransferase enzyme IIB component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)472159.1; NC_(—)003212), 50% identity from amino acids 4-105 with a protein from Streptococcus pyogenes that is homologous to a PTS system enzyme II (Accession Nos. NP_(—)607438.1; NC_(—)003485), and 50% identity from amino acids 1-109 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a cellobiose-specific PTS system IIB component (EC 2.7.1.69) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)266569.1; NC_(—)002662).

A Gapped BlastP (version) sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:172 (256 amino acids) has about 53% identity from amino acids 1-250 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a phosphotransferase system sugar-specific EII component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)357876.1; NC_(—)003098), about 53% identity from amino acids 1-250 with a protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae that is a PTS system IIC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)344847.1; NC_(—)003028), about 43% identity from amino acids 1-255 with a protein from Clostridium acetobutylicum that is a PTS cellobiose-specific component IIC (AccessionNos. NP_(—)347026.1; NC_(—)003030), 38% identity from amino acids 1-249 with a protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that is a cellobiose-specific PTS system IIC component (EC 2.7.1.69) (Accession Nos. NP_(—)266572.1; NC_(—)002662), and 37% identity from amino acids 1-255 with a protein from Listeria innocua that is homologous to a PTS system, cellobiose-specific IIC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)470241.1; NC_(—)003212).

A Gapped BlastP (version) sequence alignment showed that SEQ ID NO:174 (560 amino acids) has about 39% identity from amino acids 1-551 with a protein from Bacillus halodurans that is a PTS system, beta-glucoside-specific enzyme II, ABC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)241162.1; NC_(—)002570), about 39% identity from amino acids 1-551 with a protein from Listeria monocytogenes that is homologous to a phosphotransferase system (PTS) beta-glucoside-specific enzyme IIABC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)464265.1; NC_(—)003210), about 38% identity from amino acids 1-554 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is a phosphotransferase system (PTS) beta-glucoside-specific enzyme IIABC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)391806.1; NC_(—)000964), 38% identity from amino acids 1-554 with a protein from Bacillus subtilis that is a PTS system, beta-glucoside-specific IIABC component (EIIABC-BGL) (beta-glucoside-permease IIABC component) (Accession No. sp|P40739|PTBA_BACSU), and 37% identity from amino acids 1-554 with a protein from Bacillus halodurans that is a PTS system, beta-glucoside-specific enzyme II, ABC component (Accession Nos. NP_(—)241461.1; NC_(—)002570).

The top blast result for even SEQ ID NOS:176-308 is shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Top Blast result for SEQ ID NOS: 176-308 SEQ Amino ID Percent Acid NO: ORF Identity Range Organism Description Accession No. 176 1463 83 3 to Lactobacillus lactose permease emb|CAD55501.1 639 helveticus 178 639 90 1 to 88 Lactobacillus phosphocarrier ref|NP_964671.1 johnsonii NCC 533 protein HPr 180 640 83 1 to Lactobacillus phosphoenolpyruvate- ref|NP_964672.1 576 johnsonii NCC 533 protein phosphotransferase (enzyme I) 182 431 77 1 to Lactobacillus pepR1 emb|CAB76946.1 333 delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus 184 676 71 1 to Lactobacillus HPr(Ser) ref|NP_964704.1 314 johnsonii NCC 533 kinase/phosphatase 186 1778 79 1 to Lactobacillus fructose-1- ref|NP_965684.1 303 johnsonii NCC 533 phosphate kinase 188 1779 54 1 to Lactobacillus ref|NP_965685.1 251 johnsonii NCC 533 190 1433 77 1 to Lactobacillus glycerone kinase ref|NP_784000.1 331 plantarum WCFS1 192 1434 64 3 to Lactobacillus dihydroxyacetone ref|NP_784001.1 194 plantarum WCFS1 kinase, phosphatase domain dak2 194 1436 73 1 to Lactobacillus glycerol uptake ref|NP_784003.1 231 plantarum WCFS1 facilitator protein 196 1437 100 1 to Lactobacillus sucrose gb|AAO21868.1 480 acidophilus phosphorylase 198 1438 100 1 to Lactobacillus alpha-galactosidase gb|AAO21867.1 732 acidophilus 200 1457 74 1 to Lactobacillus aldose 1-epimerase ref|NP_964716.1 327 johnsonii NCC 533 202 1458 84 1 to Lactobacillus galactose-1-P- emb|CAA40526.1 486 helveticus uridyl transferase 204 1459 89 1 to Lactobacillus galactokinase emb|CAA40525.1 387 helveticus 206 1460 31 79 to Lactobacillus cell surface protein ref|NP_784891.1 305 plantarum WCFS1 precursor 208 1461 27 2 to Lactobacillus ref|NP_964254.1 201 johnsonii NCC 533 210 1462 74 1 to Lactobacillus beta-galactosidase ref|NP_964713.1 665 johnsonii NCC 533 212 1467 99 1 to Lactobacillus beta-galactosidase dbj|BAA20536.1 628 acidophilus 214 1468 100 1 to Lactobacillus BGAM_LACAC sp|O07685 316 acidophilus beta-galactosidase small subunit (LACTASE) 216 1469 95 1 to Lactobacillus UDP-galactose 4- emb|CAD55502.1 330 helveticus epimerase 218 1719 80 1 to Lactobacillus UTP--glucose-1- ref|NP_965397.1 294 johnsonii NCC 533 phosphate uridylyltransferase 220 874 87 6 to Lactobacillus JE0395 phospho- pir||JE0395 481 gasseri beta-galactosidase I - Lactobacillus gasseri 222 910 66 3 to Lactobacillus COG0039: ref|ZP_00046547.1 308 gasseri Malate/lactate dehydrogenases 224 1007 55 13 to Lactobacillus COG2240: ref|ZP_00046499.1 279 gasseri Pyridoxal/pyridoxine/ pyridoxamine kinase 226 1812 71 3 to Lactobacillus alpha-glucosidase ref|NP_965686.1 766 johnsonii NCC 533 228 1632 69 1 to Lactobacillus succinate- ref|NP_965584.1 457 johnsonii NCC 533 semialdehyde dehydrogenase 230 1401 89 1 to Lactobacillus COG0446: ref|ZP_00046159.1 454 gasseri Uncharacterized NAD(FAD)- dependent dehydrogenases 232 1974 72 1 to acetolactate COG0028: ref|ZP_00047198.1 601 synthase, pyruvate Thiamine dehydrogenase pyrophosphate- (cytochrome), requiring enzymes glyoxylate carboligase, phosphonopyruvate decarboxylase 234 1102 56 1 to Lactobacillus transmembrane emb|CAA05490.1 269 helveticus protein 236 1783 68 1 to Lactobacillus ABC transporter ref|NP_965688.1 298 johnsonii NCC 533 ATPase component 238 1879 72 9 to Lactobacillus COG0351: ref|ZP_00046866.1 268 gasseri Hydroxymethylpyrimidine/ phosphomethylpyrimidine kinase 240 680 56 8 to Streptococcus ref|NP_735321.1 633 agalactiae NEM316 242 55 96 8 to Lactobacillus COG1052: Lactate ref|ZP_00046778.2 349 gasseri dehydrogenase and related dehydrogenases 244 185 97 1 to Lactobacillus COG0588: ref|ZP_00047243.1 230 gasseri Phosphoglycerate mutase 1 246 271 91 1 to Lactobacillus lactate emb|CAB03618.1 323 helveticus dehydrogenase 248 698 92 1 to Lactobacillus glyceraldehyde 3- ref|NP_964727.1 338 johnsonii NCC 533 phosphate dehydrogenase 250 699 93 1 to Lactobacillus phosphoglycerate ref|NP_964728.1 403 johnsonii NCC 533 kinase 252 752 83 3 to Lactobacillus COG0166: ref|ZP_00046229.1 445 gasseri Glucose-6- phosphate isomerase 254 889 93 1 to Lactobacillus COG0148: Enolase ref|ZP_00046557.1 428 gasseri 256 956 78 1 to Lactobacillus 6- ref|NP_964935.1 319 johnsonii NCC 533 phosphofructokinase 258 957 88 1 to Lactobacillus COG0469: ref|ZP_00046514.1 589 gasseri Pyruvate kinase 260 1599 81 1 to Lactobacillus fructose- ref|NP_964539.1 303 johnsonii NCC 533 bisphosphate aldolase 262 1641 71 1 to Lactobacillus COG1653: ABC- ref|ZP_00046816.2 433 gasseri type sugar transport system, periplasmic component 264 452 69 1 to Lactobacillus phosphoenolpyruvate- ref|NP_965752.1 335 johnsonii NCC 533 dependent sugar phosphotransferase system 266 1479 71 1 to Lactobacillus ref|NP_965117.1 278 johnsonii NCC 533 268 725 62 1 to Lactobacillus COG1263: ref|ZP_00046302.1 655 gasseri Phosphotransferase system IIC components, 270 1369 81 1 to Lactobacillus phosphoenolpyruvate- ref|NP_964585.1 411 johnsonii NCC 533 dependent sugar phosphotransferase system EIIC, 272 227 52 1 to Enterococcus PTS system, IIC ref|NP_814084.1 436 faecalis V583 component 274 502 100 1 to Lactobacillus substrate-binding gb|AAO21856.1 431 acidophilus protein MsmE 276 507 100 1 to Lactobacillus sucrose gb|AAO21861.1 480 acidophilus phosphorylase 278 1483 59 1 to Streptococcus ref|NP_734585.1 492 agalactiae NEM316 280 1484 75 1 to Lactobacillus high affinity ribose ref|NP_965069.1 131 johnsonii NCC 533 transport protein rbsD 282 552 76 1 to Lactobacillus major facilitator ref|NP_964553.1 487 johnsonii NCC 533 superfamily permease 284 567 79 3 to Lactobacillus COG0477: ref|ZP_00045998.1 400 gasseri Permeases of the major facilitator superfamily 286 1471 74 79 to Lactobacillus ref|NP_965113.1 405 johnsonii NCC 533 288 1853 80 4 to Lactobacillus COG0477: ref|ZP_00046596.1 163 gasseri Permeases of the major facilitator superfamily 290 1012 77 9 to Lactobacillus phosphoenolpyruvate- ref|NP_964612.1 643 johnsonii NCC 533 dependent sugar phosphotransferase system 292 1014 77 1 to Lactobacillus COG0366: ref|ZP_00045981.1 552 gasseri Glycosidases 294 1440 100 1 to Lactobacillus transmembrane gb|AAO21865.1 277 acidophilus permease MsmG2 296 1442 100 1 to Lactobacillus substrate-binding gb|AAO21863.1 418 acidophilus protein MsmE2 298 1132 62 1 to Lactobacillus COG1132: ABC- ref|ZP_00045932.1 525 gasseri type multidrug transport system, ATPase and permease 300 1358 37 1 to Lactobacillus COG1132: ABC- ref|ZP_00045932.1 525 gasseri type multidrug transport system, ATPase and permease 302 1838 71 1 to Lactobacillus ABC transporter ref|NP_965714.1 224 johnsonii NCC 533 ATPase component 304 1840 50 1 to Lactobacillus ref|NP_965716.1 172 johnsonii NCC 533 306 1913 72 1 to Lactobacillus COG1136: ABC- ref|ZP_00045892.1 233 gasseri type antimicrobial peptide transport system, ATPase 308 1938 59 19 to Lactobacillus ref|NP_965786.1 364 johnsonii NCC 533

EXAMPLE 2 PFAM Results for Amino Acid Sequences

Table 3 shows the top PFAM results for the amino acid sequences of the invention.

TABLE 3 PFAM Results for Amino Acid Sequences Amino Acid SEQ ID Range PFAM NO: ORF Domain Start, Stop Family Accession No. E-value 3 877 PTS_IIA 16, 111 PTS system, Lactose/Cellobiose specific IIA PF02255 8.20E−40 subunit 5 609 PTS_EIIA_1 30, 134 phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar PF00358 6.00E−55 phosphotransferase system, EIIA 1 7 1479 PRD 76, 171; PRD domain PF00874 9.90E−52 181, 282 7 1479 CAT_RBD 6, 67 CAT RNA binding domain PF03123 1.10E−16 9 1574 Glyco_hydro_1 4, 471 Glycosyl hydrolase family 1 PF00232 2.90E−133 11 1707 PTS_EIIA_1 491, 595 phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar PF00358 6.10E−53 phosphotransferase system, EIIA 1 11 1707 PTS_EIIC 105, 387 Phosphotransferase system, EIIC PF02378 3.10E−33 11 1707 PTS_EIIB 7, 41 phosphotransferase system, EIIB PF00367 8.50E−19 13 725 PTS_EIIA_1 528, 632 phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar PF00358 4.10E−60 phosphotransferase system, EIIA 1 13 725 PTS_EIIC 122, 419 Phosphotransferase system, EIIC PF02378 3.80E−35 13 725 PTS_EIIB 21, 55 phosphotransferase system, EIIB PF00367 8.90E−17 15 491 PTS_EIIC 35, 368 Phosphotransferase system, EIIC PF02378 6.90E−80 19 1684 EIIA-man 1, 115 PTS system fructose IIA component PF03610 1.20E−13 27 884 PTS_EIIC 34, 392 Phosphotransferase system, EIIC PF02378 7.70E−86 29 618 PTS_EIIC 29, 360 Phosphotransferase system, EIIC PF02378 8.70E−40 31 606 PTS_EIIC 9, 351 Phosphotransferase system, EIIC PF02378 3.10E−48 31 606 PTS_EIIB 457, 491; phosphotransferase system, EIIB PF00367 1.40E−22 551, 585 33 1705 PTS_EIIA_1 531, 636 phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar PF00358 3.90E−48 phosphotransferase system, EIIA 1 33 1705 PTS_EIIC 131, 412 Phosphotransferase system, EIIC PF02378 2.80E−38 33 1705 PTS_EIIB 10, 44 phosphotransferase system, EIIB PF00367 2.00E−13 35 1777 PTS_IIB_fruc 183, 285 PTS system, Fructose specific IIB subunit PF02379 2.40E−45 35 1777 PTS_EIIC 313, 597 Phosphotransferase system, EIIC PF02378 5.20E−34 35 1777 PTS_EIIA_2 5, 149 Phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar PF00359 2.60E−26 phosphotransferase system, EIIA 2 37 500 Peripla_BP_1 68, 331 Periplasmic binding proteins and sugar PF00532 2.60E−10 binding domain of the LacI family 37 500 LacI 11, 36 Bacterial regulatory proteins, lacI family PF00356 6.40E−10 39 502 SBP_bacterial_1 28, 403 Bacterial extracellular solute-binding protein PF01547 1.50E−51 41 503 BPD_transp_1 66, 287 Binding-protein-dependent transport system PF00528 2.30E−19 inner membrane component 43 504 BPD_transp_1 80, 279 Binding-protein-dependent transport system PF00528 1.00E−19 inner membrane component 45 505 Glyco_hydro_32 24, 409 Glycosyl hydrolases family 32 PF00251 5.50E−72 47 506 ABC_tran 31, 212 ABC transporter PF00005 2.70E−58 53 1482 BPD_transp_2 5, 274 Branched-chain amino acid transport system/ PF02653 6.40E−73 permease component 55 1483 ABC_tran 32, 219; ABC transporter PF00005 8.70E−88 280, 472 59 1485 PfkB 4, 297 pfkB family carbohydrate kinase PF00294 4.70E−73 61 1864 BPD_transp_1 70, 280 Binding-protein-dependent transport system PF00528 5.80E−13 inner membrane component 63 1865 BPD_transp_1 213, 451 Binding-protein-dependent transport system PF00528 2.90E−13 inner membrane component 65 1866 SBP_bac_1 7, 322 Bacterial extracellular solute-binding protein PF01547 1.40E−22 67 1867 ABC_tran 31, 212 ABC transporter PF00005 8.00E−58 69 1944 ABC_tran 34, 220; ABC transporter PF00005 8.20E−64 287, 481 71 1945 BPD_transp_2 53, 338 Branched-chain amino acid transport system/ PF02653 1.40E−43 permease component 73 1946 BPD_transp_2 10, 297 Branched-chain amino acid transport system/ PF02653 9.40E−44 permease component 79 566 Sugar_tr 25, 93 Sugar (and other) transporter PF00083 1.10E−10 89 1616 Polysacc_synt 16, 329 Polysaccharide biosynthesis protein PF01943 1.70E−08 97 399 Peripla_BP_1 60, 325 Periplasmic binding proteins and sugar PF00532 1.60E−18 binding domain of the LacI family 97 399 LacI 3, 28 Bacterial regulatory proteins, lacI family PF00356 8.50E−11 99 400 Glyco_hydro_32 37, 449 Glycosyl hydrolases family 32 PF00251 5.40E−158 101 401 PTS_EIIA_1 517, 621 phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar PF00358 2.00E−70 phosphotransferase system, EIIA 1 101 401 PTS_EIIC 111, 403 Phosphotransferase system, EIIC PF02378 4.60E−68 101 401 PTS_EIIB 7, 40 phosphotransferase system, EIIB PF00367 5.50E−14 103 1012 PTS_EIIA_1 49, 153 phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar PF00358 4.00E−45 phosphotransferase system, EIIA 1 103 1012 PTS_EIIC 301, 587 Phosphotransferase system, EIIC PF02378 1.20E−43 103 1012 PTS_EIIB 197, 231 phosphotransferase system, EIIB PF00367 2.40E−16 105 1013 GntR 5, 68 Bacterial regulatory proteins, gntR family PF00392 2.50E−15 107 1014 Alpha-amylase 28, 429 Alpha amylase, catalytic domain PF00128 1.50E−110 109 1439 ABC_tran 31, 212 ABC transporter PF00005 2.20E−58 109 1439 TOBE 301, 359 TOBE domain PF03459 6.80E−09 111 1440 BPD_transp_1 162, 235 Binding-protein-dependent transport system PF00528 2.90E−27 inner membrane component 113 1441 BPD_transp_1 66, 290 Binding-protein-dependent transport system PF00528 1.60E−29 inner membrane component 115 1442 SBP_bacterial_1 48, 411 Bacterial extracellular solute-binding protein PF01547 1.20E−61 117 1443 AraC_binding 16, 159 AraC-like ligand binding domain PF02311 6.80E−30 117 1443 HTH_AraC 229, 273 Bacterial regulatory helix-turn-helix PF00165 8.40E−20 proteins, AraC family 121 74 ABC_tran 346, 527 ABC transporter PF00005 2.80E−36 123 75 ABC_tran 346, 527 ABC transporter PF00005 9.20E−35 125 1131 ABC_tran 346, 527 ABC transporter PF00005 4.50E−35 125 1131 ABC_membrane 14, 280 ABC transporter transmembrane region PF00664 1.00E−08 127 1132 ABC_tran 347, 528 ABC transporter PF00005 4.80E−36 129 1357 ABC_tran 346, 527 ABC transporter PF00005 3.50E−33 131 1358 ABC_tran 348, 529 ABC transporter PF00005 1.30E−35 133 1679 FtsX 85, 182 Predicted permease PF02687 1.40E−08 135 1680 ABC_tran 35, 221 ABC transporter PF00005 1.90E−60 143 1796 ABC_membrane 164, 440 ABC transporter transmembrane region PF00664 5.10E−68 143 1796 Peptidase_C39 10, 145 Peptidase C39 family PF03412 3.30E−64 143 1796 ABC_tran 512, 696 ABC transporter PF00005 1.60E−46 145 1838 ABC_tran 43, 228 ABC transporter PF00005 2.10E−56 147 1839 FtsX 192, 347 Predicted permease PF02687 4.80E−16 151 1913 ABC_tran 36, 217 ABC transporter PF00005 1.50E−57 153 1914 FtsX 246, 441; Predicted permease PF02687 7.60E−48 668, 838 159 1939 ABC_tran 31, 216 ABC transporter PF00005 7.60E−57 159 1939 FtsX 594, 772 Predicted permease PF02687 3.00E−35 165 455 EII-Sor 1, 238 PTS system sorbose-specific iic component PF03609 8.00E−124 167 456 EIID-AGA 7, 307 PTS system mannose/fructose/sorbose PF03613 4.80E−184 family IID component 169 876 PTS_IIB 5, 107 PTS system, Lactose/Cellobiose specific IIB PF02302 1.40E−31 subunit 173 1575 PTS_EIIA_1 425, 529 phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar PF00358 6.70E−63 phosphotransferase system, EIIA 1 173 1575 PTS_EIIC 42, 322 Phosphotransferase system, EIIC PF02378 1.40E−39 175 1463 PTS_EIIA_1 516, 608 phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar PF00358 2.10E−28 phosphotransferase system, EIIA 1 177 639 PTS-HPr 1, 84 PTS HPr component phosphorylation site PF00381 7.10E−52 179 640 PEP-utilizers_C 252, 544 PEP-utilising enzyme, TIM barrel domain PF02896 8.30E−182 179 640 PEP-utilisers_N 5, 129 PEP-utilising enzyme, N-terminal PF05524 3.50E−57 179 640 PEP-utilizers 146, 227 PEP-utilising enzyme, mobile domain PF00391 4.60E−37 181 431 LacI 6, 31 Bacterial regulatory proteins, lacI family PF00356 1.90E−11 183 676 Hpr_kinase_C 133, 313 HPr Serine kinase C-terminus PF07475 3.50E−86 183 676 Hpr_kinase_N 3, 132 HPr Serine kinase N terminus PF02603 7.90E−26 185 1778 PfkB 7, 292 pfkB family carbohydrate kinase PF00294 1.50E−37 187 1779 DeoR 6, 231 Bacterial regulatory proteins, deoR family PF00455 1.30E−64 189 1433 Dak1 16, 331 Dak1 domain PF02733 2.30E−104 191 1434 Dak2 32, 189 DAK2 domain PF02734 4.10E−71 193 1436 MIP 1, 231 Major intrinsic protein PF00230 2.00E−39 195 1437 Alpha-amylase 10, 423 Alpha amylase, catalytic domain PF00128 3.60E−07 197 1438 Melibiase 293, 690 Melibiase PF02065 9.00E−252 199 1457 Aldose_epim 18, 326 Aldose 1-epimerase PF01263 7.30E−63 201 1458 GalP_UDP_tr_C 222, 430 Galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase, C- PF02744 9.30E−106 terminal domain 201 1458 GalP_UDP_transf 15, 220 Galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase, PF01087 2.30E−95 N-terminal domain 203 1459 GHMP_kinases 112, 351 GHMP kinases putative ATP-binding protein PF00288 2.00E−50 209 1462 Glyco_hydro_42 192, 605 Beta-galactosidase PF02449 1.90E−150 211 1467 Glyco_hydro_2_C 333, 628 Glycosyl hydrolases family 2, TIM barrel PF02836 2.60E−146 domain 211 1467 Glyco_hydro_2_N 39, 227 Glycosyl hydrolases family 2, sugar binding PF02837 2.00E−86 domain 211 1467 Glyco_hydro_2 229, 331 Glycosyl hydrolases family 2, PF00703 2.90E−21 immunoglobulin-like beta-sandwich domain 213 1468 Bgal_small_N 4, 197 Beta galactosidase small chain, N terminal PF02929 3.30E−94 domain 213 1468 Bgal_small_C 206, 315 Beta galactosidase small chain, C terminal PF02930 8.40E−61 domain 215 1469 Epimerase 3, 324 NAD dependent epimerase/dehydratase PF01370 2.00E−142 family 215 1469 3Beta_HSD 2, 324 3-beta hydroxysteroid PF01073 1.00E−07 dehydrogenase/isomerase family 217 1719 NTP_transferase 5, 272 Nucleotidyl transferase PF00483 8.30E−28 219 874 Glyco_hydro_1 2, 479 Glycosyl hydrolase family 1 PF00232 1.20E−136 221 910 Ldh_1_N 3, 142 lactate/malate dehydrogenase, NAD binding PF00056 1.60E−59 domain 221 910 Ldh_1_C 144, 308 lactate/malate dehydrogenase, alpha/beta PF02866 1.90E−32 C-terminal domain 223 1007 PfkB 130, 187; pfkB family carbohydrate kinase PF00294 3.10E−07 217, 247 225 1812 Glyco_hydro_31 105, 757 Glycosyl hydrolases family 31 PF01055 2.10E−120 227 1632 Aldedh 3, 456 Aldehyde dehydrogenase family PF00171 1.40E−98 229 1401 Pyr_redox 5, 294 Pyridine nucleotide-disulphide PF00070 2.10E−65 oxidoreductase 231 1974 TPP_enzyme_N 4, 174 Thiamine pyrophosphate enzyme, N- PF02776 4.00E−34 terminal TPP binding domain 231 1974 TPP_enzyme_M 193, 340 Thiamine pyrophosphate enzyme, central PF00205 1.40E−32 domain 233 1102 Sugar_transport 16, 280 Sugar transport protein PF06800 1.60E−114 235 1783 ABC_tran 27, 204 ABC transporter PF00005 2.20E−44 237 1879 PfkB 129, 178; pfkB family carbohydrate kinase PF00294 5.50E−07 212, 240 239 680 Isoamylase_N 25, 102 Isoamylase N-terminal domain PF02922 8.80E−19 239 680 Alpha-amylase 146, 495 Alpha amylase, catalytic domain PF00128 3.30E−08 241 55 2-Hacid_dh_C 119, 309 D-isomer specific 2-hydroxyacid PF02826 1.70E−100 dehydrogenase, NAD binding domain 241 55 2-Hacid_dh 16, 113 D-isomer specific 2-hydroxyacid PF00389 1.50E−23 dehydrogenase, catalytic domain 243 185 PGAM 2, 226 Phosphoglycerate mutase family PF00300 4.60E−117 245 271 Ldh_1_N 8, 147 lactate/malate dehydrogenase, NAD binding PF00056 9.40E−76 domain 245 271 Ldh_1_C 149, 317 lactate/malate dehydrogenase, alpha/beta PF02866 2.00E−75 C-terminal domain 247 698 Gp_dh_C 157, 318 Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate PF02800 9.70E−88 dehydrogenase, C-terminal domain 247 698 Gp_dh_N 3, 156 Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate PF00044 1.10E−82 dehydrogenase, NAD binding domain 249 699 PGK 1, 403 Phosphoglycerate kinase PF00162 1.20E−218 251 752 PGI 7, 442 Phosphoglucose isomerase PF00342 3.80E−136 253 889 Enolase_C 139, 427 Enolase, C-terminal TIM barrel domain PF00113 2.30E−126 253 889 Enolase_N 5, 135 Enolase, N-terminal domain PF03952 1.40E−58 255 956 PFK 2, 277 Phosphofructokinase PF00365 1.70E−174 257 957 PK 1, 346 Pyruvate kinase, barrel domain PF00224 4.30E−228 257 957 PK_C 360, 475 Pyruvate kinase, alpha/beta domain PF02887 2.20E−64 257 957 PEP-utilizers 490, 579 PEP-utilising enzyme, mobile domain PF00391 2.50E−32 259 1599 F_bP_aldolase 4, 285 Fructose-bisphosphate aldolase class-II PF01116 7.40E−97 261 1641 SBP_bac_1 7, 343 Bacterial extracellular solute-binding protein PF01547 1.70E−27 263 452 PTSIIB_sorb 169, 319 PTS system sorbose subfamily IIB PF03830 6.20E−76 component 263 452 EIIA-man 2, 120 PTS system fructose IIA component PF03610 1.60E−47 265 1479 PRD 76, 164; PRD domain PF00874 3.00E−39 181, 275 265 1479 CAT_RBD 2, 60 CAT RNA binding domain PF03123 3.10E−16 267 725 PTS_EIIA_1 516, 620 phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar PF00358 9.10E−60 phosphotransferase system, EIIA 1 267 725 PTS_EIIC 111, 406 Phosphotransferase system, EIIC PF02378 1.40E−33 267 725 PTS_EIIB 9, 43 phosphotransferase system, EIIB PF00367 2.00E−16 269 1369 PTS_EIIC 31, 336 Phosphotransferase system, EIIC PF02378 1.30E−60 271 227 PTS_EIIC 26, 364 Phosphotransferase system, EIIC PF02378 1.40E−82 273 502 SBP_bac_1 6, 344 Bacterial extracellular solute-binding protein PF01547 5.30E−35 277 1483 ABC_tran 28, 215; ABC transporter PF00005 6.40E−88 276, 468 279 1484 RbsD_FucU 1, 131 RbsD/FucU transport protein family PF05025 5.90E−59 281 552 Sugar_tr 8, 111 Sugar (and other) transporter PF00083 1.80E−09 289 1012 PTS_EIIA_1 25, 129 phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar PF00358 8.70E−45 phosphotransferase system, EIIA 1 289 1012 PTS_EIIC 278, 562 Phosphotransferase system, EIIC PF02378 5.10E−40 289 1012 PTS_EIIB 173, 207 phosphotransferase system, EIIB PF00367 5.40E−16 291 1014 Alpha-amylase 11, 413 Alpha amylase, catalytic domain PF00128 1.00E−112 293 1440 BPD_transp_1 69, 273 Binding-protein-dependent transport system PF00528 2.40E−27 inner membrane component 295 1442 SBP_bac_1 8, 337 Bacterial extracellular solute-binding protein PF01547 2.90E−45 297 1132 ABC_tran 342, 523 ABC transporter PF00005 5.60E−35 299 1358 ABC_tran 344, 525 ABC transporter PF00005 2.60E−35 301 1838 ABC_tran 33, 218 ABC transporter PF00005 2.40E−56 305 1913 ABC_tran 33, 214 ABC transporter PF00005 3.10E−57 307 1938 DUF218 177, 331 DUF218 domain PF02698 1.10E−45

EXAMPLE 3 Sugar Metabolism Genes

Lactobacillus acidophilus has the ability to utilize a variety of carbohydrates, including mono-, di- and poly-saccharides, as shown by its API50 sugar fermentation pattern. In particular, complex dietary carbohydrates that escape digestion in the upper GI-tract, such as raffinose and fructooligosaccharides (Gibson et al. (1995) J. Nutr. 125:1401-1412; Barrangou et al. (2003) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A 100:8957-8962) can be utilized. The NCFM genome encodes a large variety of genes related to carbohydrate utilization, including 20 phosphoenolpyruvate sugar-transferase systems (PTS) and 5 ATP binding cassette (ABC) families of transporters. Putative PTS transporters were identified for trehalose (ORF 1012) (SEQ ID NOS:103 and 289), fructose (ORF 1777) (SEQ ID NO:35), sucrose (ORF 401) (SEQ ID NO:101), glucose and mannose (ORF 452 (SEQ ID NOS:1 and 263), ORF 453 (SEQ ID NO:161), ORF 454 (SEQ ID NO:163), ORF 455 (SEQ ID NO:165) and ORF 456 (SEQ ID NO:167)), melibiose (ORF 1705) (SEQ ID NO:33), gentiobiose and cellobiose (ORF 1369) (SEQ ID NOS:17 and 269), salicin (ORF 876 (SEQ ID NO:169), ORF 877 (SEQ ID NO:3), ORF 879 (SEQ ID NO:171)), arbutin (ORF 884) (SEQ ID NO:27), and N-acetyl glucosamine (ORF 146) (SEQ ID NO:21). Putative ABC transporters were identified for FOS (ORF 502 (SEQ ID NOS:39 and 273) ORF 504 (SEQ ID NO:43), ORF 506 (SEQ ID NO:47)), raffinose (ORF 1439 (SEQ ID NO:109), ORF 1440 (SEQ ID NOS:111 and 293), ORF 1441 (SEQ ID NO:113), ORF 1442 (SEQ ID NOS:115 and 295), and maltose (ORF 1854-ORF 1857). A putative lactose-galactose permease was also identified (ORF 1463) (SEQ ID NO:175). Most of these transporters share a genetic locus with a glycosidase and a transcriptional regulator, allowing localized transcriptional control.

In silico analyses of the genome revealed the presence of genes representing the complete glycolysis pathway. Additionally, members of the general carbohydrate utilization regulation network were identified, namely HPr (ORF 639 (SEQ ID NO:177), ptsH), E1 (ORF 640 (SEQ ID NO:179), ptsI), CcpA (ORF 431 (SEQ ID NO:181), ccpA), and HPrK/P (ORF 676 (SEQ ID NO:183), ptsK), indicating an active carbon catabolite repression network based on sugar availability.

EXAMPLE 4 Differentially Expressed Genes

Global gene expression patterns obtained from growth on eight different carbohydrates were visualized by cluster analysis (Eisen et al. (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95:14863-14868) using Ward's hierarchical clustering method, volcano plots and contour plots. Overall, between 23 and 379 genes were differentially expressed between paired treatment conditions (with p-values below the Bonferroni correction), representing between 1% and 20% of the genome, respectively. All possible treatment comparisons were considered, and a gene was considered induced above a particular level if it showed induction in at least one treatment comparison. For genes that showed induction in more than one instance, the highest induction level was selected. Although 342 genes (18% of the genome) showed induction levels above two fold, only 63 genes (3% of the genome) showed induction above 4 fold, indicating a relatively small number of genes were highly induced. Although overall expression levels of the majority of the genes remained consistent regardless of the growth substrate (80% of the genome), select clusters showed differential transcription of genes and operons. Nevertheless, for each sugar, a limited number of genes showed specific induction.

In the presence of glucose, ORF 1679 (SEQ ID NO:133) and ORF 1680 (SEQ ID NO:135) were highly induced when compared to other monosaccharides (fructose, galactose) and di-saccharides (sucrose, lactose, trehalose). The induction levels compared to other sugars varied between 3.5 and 6.3 for ORF 1679 (SEQ ID NO:133) and between 3.7 and 4.7 for ORF 1680 (SEQ ID NO:135). ORF 1679 (SEQ ID NO:133) encodes an ABC nucleotide binding protein, including commonly found nucleotide binding domain motifs, namely WalkerA, WalkerB, ABC signature sequence and Linton and Higgins motif. ORF 1680 (SEQ ID NO:135) encodes an ABC permease, with 10 predicted membrane spanning domains. No solute binding protein is encoded in their vicinity, suggesting a possible role as an exporter rather than an importer. Several genes and operons were specifically repressed by glucose, including ORFs 680 (SEQ ID NO:239)—ORF 686, which are involved in glycogen metabolism. Since glycogen is metabolized by the cell in order to store energy, in the presence of the preferred carbon source such as glucose, energy storage is not necessary. Other genes repressed in the presence of glucose included proteins involved in uptake of alternative carbohydrate sources, and enzymes involved in hydrolysis of such carbohydrates.

The three genes of the putative fructose locus, ORF 1777 (SEQ ID NO:35) (FruA, fructose PTS transporter EIIABC^(Fru)), ORF 1778 (SEQ ID NO:185) (FruK, phosphofructokinase EC 2.7.1.56) and ORF 1779 (SEQ ID NO:187) (FruR, transcription regulator) were differentially expressed. Induction levels were up to 3.9, 4.3 and 4.6 for fruA, fruK and fruR, respectively. These results suggest fructose is transported into the cell via a PTS transporter, into fructose-6-phosphate, which the phosphofructokinase FruK phosphorylates into fructose-1,6 bi-phosphate, a glycolysis intermediate.

In the presence of sucrose, the three genes of the sucrose locus were differentially expressed, namely ORF 399 (SEQ ID NO:97) (ScrR, transcription regulator), ORF 400 (SEQ ID NO:99) (ScrB, sucrose-6-phosphate hydrolase EC 3.2.1.26), and ORF 401 (SEQ ID NO:101) (ScrA, sucrose PTS transporter EIIBCA^(Suc)). When compared to glucose, induction levels were up to 3.1, 2.8 and 17.2 for scrR, scrB and scrA, respectively. ORF 401 (SEQ ID NO:101) in particular showed high induction levels, between 8.0 and 17.2 when compared to mono- and di-saccharides. These results indicate that sucrose is transported into the cell via a PTS transporter, into sucrose-6-phosphate, which is subsequently hydrolyzed into glucose-6-phosphate and fructose by ScrB.

The six genes of the FOS operon were differentially expressed, namely ORF 502 (SEQ ID NOS:39 and 273), ORF 503 (SEQ ID NO:41), ORF 504 (SEQ ID NO:43), ORF 506 (SEQ ID NO:47) (MsmEFGK ABC transporter), ORF 505 (SEQ ID NO:45) (BfrA, β-fructosidase EC 3.2.1.26) and ORF 507 (SEQ ID NOS:49 and 275) (GtfA, sucrose phosphorylase EC 2.7.1.4). Induction levels varied between 15.1 and 40.6 when compared to mono- and di-saccharides, and between 5.5 and 8.9 when compared to raffinose. These results suggest FOS is transported into the cell via an ABC transporter and subsequently hydrolyzed into fructose and sucrose by the fructosidase. Sucrose is likely subsequently hydrolyzed into fructose and glucose-1-P by the sucrose phosphorylase. In addition to the FOS operon, FOS also induced the fructose operon, the sucrose PTS transporter, the trehalose operon and an ABC transporter (ORF 1679-ORF 1680) (SEQ ID NOS:133 and 135, respectively).

In the presence of raffinose, the six genes of the raffinose operon were specifically induced. The raffinose locus consists of ORF 1442 (SEQ ID NOS:115 and 295), ORF 1441 (SEQ ID NO:113), ORF 1440 (SEQ ID NOS:111 and 293), ORF 1439 (SEQ ID NO:109) (MsmEFGK₂ ABC transporter), ORF 1438 (SEQ ID NO:197) (MelA α-galactosidase EC 3.2.1.22), and ORF 1437 (SEQ ID NO:195) (GtfA₂, sucrose phosphorylase EC 2.7.1.4). Induction levels varied between 15.1 and 45.6, when compared to all other conditions. Additionally, ORFs 1433 (SEQ ID NO:189), 1434 (SEQ ID NO:191) (di-hydroxyacetone kinase EC 2.7.1.29), and ORF 1436 (SEQ ID NO:193) (glycerol uptake facilitator) were induced between 1.9 and 24.7 fold when compared to other conditions.

In the presence of lactose and galactose, ten genes distributed in two loci were differentially expressed, namely ORF 1463 (SEQ ID NO:175) (LacS permease of the GPH translocator family), ORF 1462 (SEQ ID NO:209) (LacZ, β-galactosidase EC 3.2.1.23), ORF 1461 (SEQ ID NO:207), ORF 1460 (SEQ ID NO:205) (surface protein), ORF 1459 (SEQ ID NO:203)(GalK, galactokinase EC 2.7.1.6), ORF 1458 (SEQ ID NO:201)(GalT, galactose-1 phosphate uridylyl transferase EC 2.7.7.10), ORF 1457 (SEQ ID NO:199)(GalM, galactose epimerase EC 5.1.3.3), ORFs 1467 (SEQ ID NO:211), 1468 (SEQ ID NO:213)(LacLM, β-galactosidase EC 3.2.1.23 large and small subunits), and 1469 (SEQ ID NO:215)(GalE, UDP-glucose epimerase EC 5.1.3.2). LacS (SEQ ID NO:175) is similar to GPH permeases previously identified in lactic acid bacteria. Although LacS (SEQ ID NO:175) contains an EIIA at the carboxy-terminus, it is not a PTS transporter. Also, LacS (SEQ ID NO:175) includes a His at position 553, which might be involved in interaction with HPr, as shown in S. salivarius (Lessard et al. (2003) J. Bacteriol. 185:6764-6772). In the presence of lactose and galactose, galKTM (SEQ ID NOS:199, 201, and 203) were induced between 3.7 and 17.6 fold; lacSZ (SEQ ID NOS:175 and 209) were induced between 2.8 and 17.6 fold; lacL (SEQ ID NO:213) and galE (SEQ ID NO:215) were induced between 2.7 and 29.5, when compared to other carbohydrates not containing galactose, i.e., glucose, fructose, sucrose, trehalose and FOS. These results suggest lactose is transported into the cell via the LacS permease of the galactoside-pentose hexuronide translocator family. Inside the cell, lactose is hydrolyzed into glucose and galactose by LacZ. Galactose is then phosphorylated by GalK into galactose-1 phosphate, further transformed into UDP-galactose by GalT. UDP-galactose is subsequently epimerized to UDP-glucose by GalE. UDP-glucose is likely turned into glucose-IP by ORF 1719 (SEQ ID NO:217), which encodes a UDP-glucose phosphorylase EC 2.7.7.9, consistently highly expressed. Finally, the phosphoglucomutase EC 5.4.2.2 likely acts on glucose-1P to yield glucose-6P, a glycolysis substrate.

The three genes of the putative trehalose locus were also differentially expressed. The trehalose locus consists of ORF 1012 (SEQ ID NOS:103 and 289)(encoding the TreB trehalose PTS transporter EIIABC^(Tre) EC 2.7.1.69), ORF 1013 (SEQ ID NO:105)(TreR, trehalose regulator) and ORF 1014 (SEQ ID NOS:107 and 291) (TreC, trehalose-6 phosphate hydrolase EC 3.2.1.93). Induction levels were between 4.3 and 18.6 for treB (SEQ ID NOS:103 and 289), between 2.3 and 7.3 for treR (SEQ ID NO:105), and between 2.7 and 18.5 for treC (SEQ ID NOS:107 and 291), when compared to glucose, sucrose, raffinose and galactose. These results suggest trehalose is transported into the cell via a PTS transporter, phosphorylated to trehalose-6 phosphate and hydrolyzed into glucose and glucose-6 phosphate by TreC.

In addition, genes showing differential expression included sugar- and energy-related genes ORF 874 (SEQ ID NO:219) (beta galactosidase EC 3.2.1.86), ORF 910 (SEQ ID NO:221) (L-LDH EC 1.1.1.27), ORF 1007 (SEQ ID NO:223 (pyridoxal kinase 2.7.1.35), ORF 1812 (SEQ ID NO:225) (alpha glucosidase EC 3.2.1.3), ORF 1632 (SEQ ID NO:227) (aldehyde dehydrogenase EC 1.2.1.16), ORF 1401 (SEQ ID NO:229) (NADH peroxidase EC 1.11.1.1), ORF 1974 (SEQ ID NO:231) (pyruvate oxidase EC 1.2.3.3), adherence genes ORF 555, ORF 649, ORF 1019; aminopeptidase ORF 911, ORF 1086; amino-acid permease, ORF 1102 (SEQ ID NO:233) (membrane protein), ORF 1783 (SEQ ID NO:235) (ABC transporter), and ORF 1879 (SEQ ID NO:237)(pyrimidine kinase EC 2.7.4.7).

EXAMPLE 5 Real Time RT-PCR

Five genes that were differentially expressed in microarray experiments were selected for real-time quantitative RT-PCR experiments, in order to validate induction levels measured by microarrays. These genes were selected for both their broad expression range (LSM between −1.52 and +3.87), and induction levels between sugars (fold induction up to 34). All selected genes showed an induction level above 6 fold in at least one instance. Also, the annotations of the selected genes were correlated functionally with carbohydrate utilization. The five selected genes were: beta-fructosidase (ORF 505) (SEQ ID NO:45), trehalose PTS (ORF 1012) (SEQ ID NOS:103 and 289), glycerol uptake facilitator (ORF 1436) (SEQ ID NO:193), beta-galactosidase (ORF 1467) (SEQ ID NO:211), and ABC transporter (ORF 1679) (SEQ ID NO:133).

For the five selected genes, induction levels were compared between six different treatments, resulting in 15 induction levels for each gene. The induction levels measured by microarrays were plotted against induction levels measured by Q-PCR, in order to validate microarray data. Individual R-square values ranged between 0.642 and 0.883 for each of the tested genes (between 0.652 and 0.978 using data in a log₂ scale). When the data were combined, the global R-square value was 0.78 (0.88 using data in a log₂ scale). A correlation analysis was run in SAS (Cary, N.C.), and showed a correlation between the two methods with P-values less than 0.001, for Spearman, Hoeffding and Kendall tests. Additionally, a regression analysis was run in excel (Microsoft, CA), and showed a statistically highly significant (p<1.02×10⁻²⁵) correlation between microarray data and Q-PCR results. Nevertheless, Q-PCR measurements revealed larger induction levels, which is likely due to the smaller dynamic range of the microarray scanner, compared to that of the Q-PCR cycler. Similar results have been reported previously (Wagner et al. (2003) J. Bacteriol. 185:2080-2095).

EXAMPLE 6 Comparative Analysis

Comparative analyses of global transcription profiles determined for growth on eight carbohydrates identified the basis for carbohydrate transport and catabolism in L. acidophilus. Specifically, three different types of carbohydrate transporters were differentially expressed, namely phosphoenolpyruvate: sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS), ATP binding cassette (ABC) and galactoside-pentose hexuronide (GPH) translocator, illustrating the diversity of carbohydrate transporters used by Lactobacillus acidophilus. Transcription profiles suggested that galactosides were transported by a GPH translocator, while mono- and di-saccharides were transported by members of the PTS, and polysaccharides were transported by members of the ABC family.

Microarray results indicated fructose, sucrose and trehalose are transported by PTS transporters EIIABC^(Fru) (ORF 1777) (SEQ ID NO:35), EIIBCA^(Suc) (ORF 401) (SEQ ID NO:101) and EIIABC^(Tre) (ORF 1012) (SEQ ID NOS:103 and 289), respectively. Those genes are encoded on typical PTS loci (FIG. 2), along with regulators and enzymes that have been well characterized in other organisms. In contrast, FOS and raffinose are transported by ABC transporters of the MsmEFGK family, ORFs 502 (SEQ ID NOS:39 and 273), 503 (SEQ ID NO:41), 504 (SEQ ID NO:43), and 505 (SEQ ID NO:45); and ORFs 1437 (SEQ ID NO:195, ORF 1438 (SEQ ID NO:197), 1439 (SEQ ID NO:109), ORF 1440 (SEQ ID NOS:111 and 293), ORF 1441 (SEQ ID NO:113), and ORF 1442 (SEQ ID NO:115 and 295), respectively. In the case of trehalose and FOS, microarray results correlate well with functional studies in which targeted knock out of carbohydrate transporters and hydrolases modified the saccharolytic potential of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM. Differential expression of the EIIABC^(Tre) is consistent with recent work in Lactobacillus acidophilus indicating ORF 1012 (SEQ ID NOS:103 and 289) is involved in trehalose uptake. Similarly, differential expression of the fos operon is consistent with previous work in Lactobacillus acidophilus indicating those genes are involved in uptake and catabolism of FOS, and induced in the presence of FOS and repressed in the presence of glucose (Barrangou et al. (2003) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100: 8957-8962). Additionally, induction of the raffinose msm locus is consistent with previous work in Streptococcus mutans (Russell et al. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267: 4631-4637) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (Rosenow et al. (1999) Genome Res. 9:1189-1197).

A number of lactic acid bacteria take up glucose via a PTS transporter. The EII^(Man) PTS transporter has the ability to import both mannose and glucose (Cochu et al. 2003). The Lactobacillus acidophilus mannose PTS system is similar to that of Streptococcus thermophilus, with proteins sharing 53-65% identity and 72-79% similarity. Specifically, the EII^(Man) is composed of three proteins IIAB^(Man), IIC^(Man) and IID^(Man), encoded by ORF 452 (SEQ ID NOS:1 and 263) (manL), ORF 455 (SEQ ID NO:165) (manM) and ORF 456 (SEQ ID NO:167) (manN), respectively (FIG. 2). Most of the carbohydrates examined here specifically induced genes involved in their own transport and hydrolysis, but glucose did not. Analysis of the mannose PTS revealed that the genes encoding the EIIABCD^(Man) were consistently highly expressed, regardless of the carbohydrate source. This expression profile suggests glucose is a preferred carbohydrate, and Lactobacillus acidophilus is also designed for efficient utilization of different carbohydrate sources, as suggested previously for Lactobacillus plantarum (Kleerebezem et al, (2003) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100: 1990-1995).

The genes differentially expressed in the presence of galactose and lactose included a permease (LacS), and the enzymatic machinery of the Leloir pathway. Members of the LacS subfamily of galactoside-pentose-hexuronide (GPH) translocators have been described in a variety of lactic acid bacteria, including Leuconostoc lactis (Vaughan et al. (1996) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 62:1574-1582), S. thermophilus (van den Bogaard et al. (2000) J. Bacteriol. 182:5982-5989), Streptococcus salivarius (Lessard et al. (2003) J. Bacteriol. 185:6764-6772) and Lactobacillus delbrueckii (Lapierre et al. (2002) J. Bacteriol. 184:928-935). Although LacS contains a PTS EIIA at the carboxy terminus, it is not a member of the PTS family of transporters. LacS has been reported to have the ability to import both galactose and lactose in select organisms (Vaughan et al. (1996) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 62:1574-1582; van den Bogaard et al. (2000) J. Bacteriol. 182:5982-5989). Although the combination of a LacS lactose permease with two β-galactosidase subunits LacL and LacM has been described in Lactobacillus plantarum (Kleerebezem et al. 2003) and Leuconostoc lactis (Vaughan et al. (1996) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 62:1574-1582), it has never been reported in Lactobacillus acidophilus. Even though constitutive expression of lacS and lacLM has been reported previously (Vaughan et al. (1996) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 62:1574-1582), these results indicate specific induction of the genes involved in uptake and catabolism of both galactose and lactose. Operon organization for galactoside utilization is variable and unstable among Gram-positive bacteria (Lapierre et al. (2002) J. Bacteriol. 184:928-935; Vaillancourt et al. (2002) J. Bacteriol. 184:785-793; Boucher et al. (2003) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69:4149-4156; Fortina et al. (2003) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69:3238-3243; Grossiord et al. (2003) J. Bacteriol. 185:870-878). Even amongst closely related Lactobacillus species, namely Lactobacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus gasseri and Lactobacillus acidophilus, the lactose-galactose locus is not well conserved (Pridmore et al. (2004) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101:2512-2517).

Although it was previously suggested that the phosphoenolpyruvate:phosphotransferase system is the primary sugar transport system of Gram-positive bacteria (Ajdic et al. (2002) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99:14434-14439; Warner and Lolkema (2003) Microbiol. Mol. Rev. 67:475-490), current microarray data indicate that ABC transport systems are also important. While PTS transporters are involved in uptake of mono- and di-saccharides, those carbohydrates are digested in the upper GIT. In contrast, oligosaccharides reach the lower intestine whereby commensals are likely to compete for more complex and scarce nutrients. Perhaps under such conditions ABC transporters are even more crucial than the PTS, given their apparent roles in transport of oligosaccharides like FOS and raffinose. In this regard, the ability to utilize nutrients that has been are non digestible by the host has been associated with competitiveness and persistence of beneficial intestinal flora in the colon (Schell et al. (2002) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99: 14422-14427).

Transcription profiles of genes differentially expressed in conditions tested indicated that all carbohydrate uptake systems and their respective sugar hydrolases were specifically induced by their substrate, except for glucose. Moreover, genes within those inducible loci were repressed in the presence of glucose, and cre sequences were identified in their promoter-operator regions. Together, these results indicate regulation of carbohydrate uptake and metabolism at the transcription level, and implicate the involvement of a global regulatory system compatible with carbon catabolite repression. Carbon catabolite repression (CCR) controls transcription of proteins involved in transport and catabolism of carbohydrates (Miwa et al. (2000) Nucleic Acids Res. 28: 1206-1210). Catabolite repression is a mechanism widely distributed amongst Gram-positive bacteria, mediated in cis by catabolite responsive elements (Miwa et al. (2000) Nucleic Acids Res. 28:1206-1210; Wickert and Chambliss (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:6238-6242), and in trans by repressors of the LacI family, which is responsible for transcriptional repression of genes encoding unnecessary saccharolytic components in the presence of preferred substrates (Wickert and Chambliss (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:6238-6242; Viana et al. (2000) Mol. Microbiol. 36:570-584; Muscariello et al. (2001) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 67:2903-2907; Warner and Lolkema (2003) Microbiol. Mol. Rev. 67:475-490). This regulatory mechanism allows cells to coordinate the utilization of diverse carbohydrates, to focus primarily on preferred energy sources. CCR is based upon several key enzymes, namely HPr (ORF 639 (SEQ ID NO:177), ptsH), E1 (ORF 640 (SEQ ID NO:179), ptsI), CcpA (ORF 431 (SEQ ID NO:181), ccpA), and HPrK/P (ORF 676 (SEQ ID NO:183), ptsK), all of which are encoded within the Lactobacillus acidophilus chromosome.

Carbon catabolite repression has already been described in lactobacilli (Mahr et al. 2000). The PTS is characterized by a phosphate transfer cascade involving PEP, E1, HPr, EIIABC, whereby a phosphate is ultimately transferred to the carbohydrate substrate (Saier, 2000; Warner and Lolkema, 2003). HPr is an important component of CCR, which is regulated via phosphorylation by enzyme I and HPrK/P. When HPr is phosphorylated at His15, the PTS is active, and carbohydrates transported via the PTS are phosphorylated via EIIABCs. In contrast, when HPr is phosphorylated at Ser46, the PTS machinery is not functional (Mijakovic et al. (2002) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99:13442-13447).

Although the phosphorylation cascade suggests regulation at the protein level, several studies report transcriptional modulation of ccpA and ptsHI. In S. thermophilus, CcpA production is induced by glucose (van den Bogaart et al. 2000). In several bacteria, the carbohydrate source modulates ptsHI transcription levels (Luesink et al. 1999). In contrast, expression levels of ccpA, ptsH, ptsI and ptsK did not vary in the presence of different carbohydrates in Lactobacillus acidophilus. These results are consistent with regulation via phosphorylation at the protein level. Similar results have been reported for ccpA expression levels in Lactobacillus pentosus (Mahr et al. (2000) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66:277-283), and ptsHI transcription in S. thermophilus (Cochu et al. (2003) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69:5423-5432).

Globally, microarray results allowed reconstruction of carbohydrate transport and catabolism pathways (FIG. 2). Although transcription of carbohydrate transporters and hydrolases was specifically induced by their respective substrates, these glycolysis genes were consistently highly expressed: D-lactate dehydrogenase (D-LDH, ORF 55 (SEQ ID NO:241)), phosphoglycerate mutase (PGM, ORF 185 (SEQ ID NO:243)), L-lactate dehydrogenase (L-LDH, ORF 271 (SEQ ID NO:245)), glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH, ORF 698 (SEQ ID NO:247)), phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK ORF 699 (SEQ ID NO:249)), glucose 6-phosphate isomerase (GPI, ORF 752 (SEQ ID NO:251)), 2-phosphoglycerate dehydratase (PGDH, ORF 889 (SEQ ID NO:253)), phosphofructokinase (PFK, ORF 956 (SEQ ID NO:255)), pyruvate kinase (PK, ORF 957 (SEQ ID NO:257)) and fructose biphosphate aldolase (FBPA, ORF 1599 (SEQ ID NO:259)). A glycerol-3-phosphate ABC transporter (ORF 1641 (SEQ ID NO:261)) was also among the genes that were consistently highly expressed. Orchestrated carbohydrate uptake likely withdraws energy sources from the intestinal environment and deprives other bacteria of access to such resources. Consequently, Lactobacillus acidophilus may compete well against other commensals for nutrients.

In summary, a variety of carbohydrate uptake systems were identified and characterized, with respect to expression profiles in the presence of different carbohydrates, including PTS, ABC and GHP transporters. The uptake and catabolic machinery is highly regulated at the transcription level, suggesting the Lactobacillus acidophilus transcriptome is flexible, dynamic and designed for efficient carbohydrate utilization. Differential gene expression indicated the presence of a global carbon catabolite repression regulatory network. Regulatory proteins were consistently highly expressed, suggesting regulation at the protein level, rather than the transcriptional level. Collectively, Lactobacillus acidophilus appears to be able to efficiently adapt its metabolic machinery to fluctuating carbohydrate sources available in the nutritional complex environment of the small intestine. In particular, ABC transporters of the MsmEFG family involved in uptake of FOS and raffinose likely play an important role in the ability of Lactobacillus acidophilus to compete with intestinal commensals for complex sugars that are not digested by the human host. Ultimately, this information provides new insights into how undigested dietary compounds influence the intestinal microbial balance. This study is a model for comparative transcriptional analysis of a bacterium exposed to varying growth substrates.

EXAMPLE 7 Multidrug Transporters

Microorganisms such as Lactobacillus acidophilus have developed various methods in which to resist the toxic effect of antibiotics and other deleterious compounds. One such method involves transporters that promote the active efflux of drugs, by which drug resistance may be affected for a particular microorganism. There are two major classes of multidrug transporters: secondary multidrug transporters that utilize the transmembrane electrochemical gradient of protons or sodium ions to drive the extrusion of drugs from a cell; and ATP-binding cassette (ABC)-type multidrug transporters that utilize the free energy of ATP hydrolysis to pump drugs out of the cell.

Secondary multidrug transporters are subdivided into several distinct families of transport proteins: the major facilitator superfamily (MFS, Pao et al. (1998) Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 62:1-34), the small multidrug resistance (SMR) family (Paulsen et al. (1996) Mol. Microbiol. 19:1167-1175), the resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) family (Saier et al. (1994) Mol. Microbiol. 11:841-847), and the multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) family (Brown et al. (1999) Mol. Microbiol. 31:394-395. These families are not solely associated with multidrug export, and include proteins involved in other proton motive force-dependent transport processes or other functions.

MFS membrane transport proteins are involved in synport, antiport, or uniport of various substrates, among which are antibiotics (Marger and Saier (1993) Trends Biochem. Sci. 18:13-20). Analysis and alignment of conserved motifs of the resistance-conferring drug efflux proteins revealed that these proteins can be divided into two separate clusters, with either 12 or 14 transmembrane segments (Paulsen and Skurry (1993) Gene 124:1-11). The NCFM genome contains several genes that encode MFS transporters attributed to multidrug transport. Included among these are the transporters encoded in ORFs 552 (SEQ ID NO:77), 566 (SEQ ID NO:79), 567 (SEQ ID NO:81), 1446 (SEQ ID NO:85), 1471 (SEQ ID NO:87), 1621 (SEQ ID NO:91), 1853 (SEQ ID NO:93), 1854 (SEQ ID NO:321), 164 (SEQ ID NO:309), 251-253 (SEQ ID NOs:311, 313, 315) and 1062 (SEQ ID NO:317).

ABC transporters require four distinct domains: two hydrophobic membrane domains, which usually consist of six putative transmembrane α-helices each, and two hydrophilic nucleotide binding domains (NBDs), containing Walker A and B motifs (Walker et al. (1982) EMBO J. 1:945-951) and the ABC signature (Hyde et al. (1990) Nature 346:362-365). The individual domains can be expressed as separate proteins or they may be fused into multidomain polypeptides in several ways (Faith and Kolter (1993) Microbiol. Rev. 57:995-1017; Higgens (1992) Annu. Rev. Cell Bio. 8:67-113; Hyde et al. (1990) Nature 346:362-365). A multidrug ABC transporter in the NCFM genome similar to the ABC multidrug transporter ImrA from Lactococcus lactis and horA from Lactobacillus brevis is encoded by ORF 597.

All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the level of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications, patents and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A microbial host cell comprising a plasmid comprising a heterologous nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity with the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 198, wherein said polypeptide has α-galactosidase activity.
 2. The microbial host cell of claim 1, wherein said microbial host cell is a bacterial host cell.
 3. The bacterial host cell of claim 2, wherein said bacterial host cell comprises a lactic acid bacterium or Lactobacillus acidophilus.
 4. The microbial host cell of claim 1, wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 197. 5. The microbial host cell of claim 1, wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleotide sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 197, and wherein said encoded polypeptide has α-galactosidase activity.
 6. The microbial host cell of claim 1, wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 198. 7. A microbial host cell comprising a heterologous nucleic acid molecule that encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 198, wherein said polypeptide has α-galactosidase activity.
 8. The microbial host cell of claim 7, wherein said microbial host cell is a bacterial host cell.
 9. The microbial host cell of claim 8, wherein said bacterial host cell is a lactic acid bacterium.
 10. The microbial host cell of claim 9, wherein said lactic acid bacterium is Lactobacillus acidophilus.
 11. The microbial host cell of claim 7, wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 197. 12. The microbial host cell of claim 7, wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleotide sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 197, and wherein said encoded polypeptide has α-galactosidase activity.
 13. The microbial host cell of claim 7, wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 198. 